The Camperdown export signed a three-year deal yesterday, tying him to the kennel until the end of 2018.

Wood, 25, inked a one-year contract extension seven months ago when he was in the midst of career-best form.

The 67-game defender said renewed confidence in his body — hamstring injuries have plagued him — was the catalyst for his new deal.

He played 18 games in 2014 and has proved an important cog in the Bulldogs’ opening two wins of the 2015 AFL season.

“Towards the end of last year there was just concerns, both my own and the club’s, with how my body was going to hold up,” Wood told AFL.com.au

“Previously to that deal I had a vast array of injuries, hamstring injuries that had kept me out for the season before, so at that point signing a one-year deal probably was a bit better to be able to make sure I could prove the fitness in my body.

“I am just rapt it’s come through and played out that way.”

Wood, who landed at Whitten Oval via pick 43 in the 2007 national draft, said the lure of free agency never entered his thinking.

The former Geelong Falcon said he was happy at the Bulldogs and envisaged a bright future for the club.

Western Bulldogs endured a horror off-season, in which it lost captain Ryan Griffen to Greater Western Sydney and coach Brendan McCartney stood down.

But they’ve made a bold start under new mentor Luke Beveridge, winning their opening two matches for the first time since 2009 and sitting fifth on the ladder going into this weekend’s round of matches.

“There was never any temptation to pursue that,” Wood said of free agency.

“I’m just absolutely rapt to get it out of the way this early in the year and to be locked up for the next few years.”

The Bulldogs have defeated West Coast at Docklands and Richmond at the MCG and play reigning premier Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday.

Unfortunately, Wood will miss the clash against the Hawks after suffering a minor hamstring strain at training yesterday.

The club is hopeful the injury will only sideline him for one week. 

Despite his latest setback, Wood is confident the Bulldogs are heading in the right direction under new skipper Bob Murphy. 

“It’s been a great way to start the season, especially with such a young group,” he said.

“We’ve put so much work in over the pre-season and it’s just great to get reward and see what we’re doing is the right way to play and to get the benefit of that and I think our confidence will just roll on from there.”

Wood kicked seven goals in his career prior to this season but has already booted two in a bid to prove himself as a more offensive threat this year.