North Melbourne defender Michael Firrito wants to end his AFL career as a one-club player, saying he would love nothing more than to help guide the Kangaroos back to the top of the table over the coming years.

Firrito was officially classified as an unrestricted free agent when the AFL released its list on Monday, but the 28-year-old revealed he has already agreed to play on with North Melbourne in 2013.

The 192-game veteran’s future at the club was in doubt at the end of a forgettable 2011 campaign in which a series of niggling injuries severely hampered his form.

But Firrito has bounced back to his best in 2012, and is brimming with excitement ahead of Sunday’s elimination final against West Coast at Patersons Stadium.

“The club’s given me so much and I can see we’re certainly on the right track and I’d love to see this club where it belongs, back up the top of the ladder,” said Firrito, who has played in just one winning final since debuting in 2003.

“This is my 10th season at the footy club now so I certainly want to reach some of that success and it starts this week.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to play in a final, but we don’t want to leave it as one.

“We want to go deep into this finals series.

“I was very disappointed with my form last year but at no stage did I think I was done.

“I had a few niggling injuries that the outside world didn’t know about.

“I think people wanted to put a line through me, but the footy club had full confidence in me.”

Firrito and his fellow defenders will have their hands full on Sunday as they attempt to tame West Coast’s monster forward line, which includes Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling plus ruckmen Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox.