MOST would forgive Brendan Whitecross if he were angry with the football gods.
Since he joined the Hawthorn list at pick No. 29 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft he's watched from the sidelines as his teammates played in four Grand Finals for three wins.
He has had two knee reconstructions after suffering torn ACLs in two of the past three finals series.
When they happened he was entrenched in the team as a forward who applied enormous pressure on opponents.
But he has not let that sporting misfortune define him or affect his attitude.
One day after playing for the Box Hill Hawks in his second comeback from a knee injury, he is positive about what lies ahead and pragmatic about what has happened.
"[It's] never good to do a knee, let alone at the business end of the season," Whitecross said.
"[There] is no point feeling sorry for myself. It's about how I can deal with it moving forward and get back as quickly as I can."
On Saturday he played up forward for close to 80 per cent of the game and, in his words, ran around at times like a headless chook, but he came through the game unscathed, an achievement in itself.
"The knee was great today but the rest of the body was feeling it," Whitecross said.
That soreness was not a feeling he missed but he welcomed returning to the sensation of playing football.
The first contest he had was physical and he was blowing hard but he was not nervous.
He was just a little less instinctive than when at his best until he settled into the game's rhythm.
"As the game went on found myself calming down a bit more and adjusting to the game a bit easier," Whitecross said.
He'd love to play in the NAB Challenge game against St Kilda on Thursday but knows that is unlikely.
Whether he makes a senior return in round one or in round five or six doesn't bother him too much right now.
What he does know is that he'll be doing everything he possibly can to help the club win another flag.
Rather than being burdened by his teammates' success, he has been inspired by it.
"Seeing the success we have had in the past couple of years has spurred me on to make sure I get back to playing footy and enjoying what I do best," Whitecross said.
As for whether his presence could motivate his teammates to win a third successive premiership with him in the side, Whitecross thinks that is nonsense.
"It's not about me," he said.
"As far as getting one [a premiership] for me, I don't think that is the case at all."
He might not think it but you can bet it will be in the back of his best mates minds when the yards become hard mid-season.
Whitecross has many admirers. Now he has the chance to play the game he loves once again.
"I just need to play footy. That is all I need to do now."
