Jaeger O’Meara looks set to return to the Hawthorn line-up that will take on Fremantle at Optus Stadium this Sunday.
O’Meara was a late withdrawal from the Hawks side that defeated Carlton last Sunday.
It was just the second game that the 24-year-old has missed in 2018, after managing just six games in the previous three seasons.
“It’s nice to play some consistent footy,” O’Meara told Sportsday WA radio on Thursday.
“I haven’t been able to do that for the last few years obviously.
“So it’s been pleasing to be able to contribute to the team as well.”
Having made so few appearances at AFL level across the previous three years, O’Meara’s ongoing fitness is often intensely scrutinised by football fans and the media alike.
But the dynamic midfielder says he is happy with how he has fared this year.
“The body isn’t going too badly,” O’Meara said.
“It’s probably taken me a little bit to get used to the rigours of AFL again, not so much with my knee but more with the rest of my body.
“I have had a few little niggles like, with my hip last week, but by and large, I’m going pretty well in that regard at the moment.”
Asked about the mental strain that his injuries placed on him, O’Meara admitted his resilience and passion for the game was challenged throughout his lengthy stint on the sidelines.
“It was tough early days. It’s a little bit why I wanted to change clubs because I had lost a bit of the passion.
“But I’ve always loved footy and I’ve had people to lean on with family and friends, so that’s helped me to be pretty good with it.”
This week O’Meara, who has averaged 27.5 disposals, 7.5 clearances, five tackles and 2.5 goals over the previous fortnight, returns to a Hawk line-up that will be intent on continuing its winning form.
“We haven’t played at Optus Stadium yet so that is also a new challenge for us.
“It’s a bit of a fortress for Fremantle and West Coast so it will be interesting.
“We need to find that consistency this week.”
