The Dogs’ season ended on Saturday night in a 24-point loss to St Kilda at the MCG in what was the club’s third straight preliminary final defeat.
The 21-year-old said with Brad Johnson’s retirement and the probable end of Nathan Eagleton’s playing days, it was up to the younger members of the side to improve.
“We have to take it up to the older players and challenge each other. That’s the only way we’re going to take that next step, with a bit of rivalry within,” Wood said after the game.
“Things like this galvanise us together. We all feel the same hurt and we can use that to take the next step next year.
“There’s a lot more to come from this group. There are a lot of young guys coming through and even with Brad and a couple of the other guys leaving, it creates chances for younger guys to come through and that’s where we’ll get our improvement from.”
Wood, who played the second half of Saturday night's match with broken ribs, said the players were devastated they couldn’t get Johnson into a grand final.
“I’ve only been here three years but he [Johnson] epitomises everything we’re about with his character and spirit,” he said.
“It’s just really upsetting we couldn’t take the next step for him.
“We’ve been training since November and when you work as hard as you can for as long as you can, and to put everything on the line and come up short ... it’s not a great feeling.”
He also said the experience of playing in two finals in his third season had given him a new perspective.
“Being involved in a final is a massive thing and privilege at a young age,” he said.
“It’s certainly going to keep that desire there for the rest of my career, just to keep pushing, because we know how hard we worked to get here and we’re going to have to work harder to get further.”
