Through a trying introduction to life as an AFL footballer, Kaiden Brand was initially well served by a trait that comes as naturally to a “Riverlander” as a burst of citrus running down the chin. He is a relaxed person not prone to dropping his bundle.

“When I was growing up we went through a stretch of more than 10 days over 40 degrees,” he says of Berri, the Murray River town three hours north-east of Adelaide that gave its name to a juice company and still greets visitors with a “Big Orange” that long ago passed its use-by date.

“Swimming in the river is one of the only things you can do in weather like that. Relaxing is probably the best thing I do there now.”

Over four years as a Hawk that would test a monk’s serenity, Brand has added a quality just as crucial to his football development – not least in recent weeks, as he lost his hard-won place in the team with the finals so close he could smell their rarefied air. He has learned to wait.

“The patience and the apprenticeship it takes to get into the team, it’s certainly something I appreciate now – the time it took to get into the team and finally being awarded a guernsey, it’s pretty special,” the 22-year-old says.

“At the moment it’s flying by, but when I look back I think I’ll really appreciate the work I had to do to get to this point, and certainly the work I’m going to have to do to stay here.”

Missing the round 23 win over Collingwood after playing the previous eight games and 11 in a breakout season was a reminder of the competition for places in the triple premier’s best 22.

His nonchalant reflections on a pot-holed journey betray that Brand won’t be shaken by his latest setback, and will be ready, willing and able to return to the defence if’s he’s called on to face Geelong in the qualifying final.

The Berri footy ground holds his first and fondest childhood memories, the “annoying kid in the corner trying to get involved in everything”. His Dad had played in the SAFNL for Norwood; locals told Brand how good he was, but he never heard such talk at home. “He’s pretty humble, he doesn’t like to talk about himself much.”

He followed his grandmother in barracking for the Crows, but admits he wasn’t a massive supporter. There were other footy-following quirks: where mates gravitated to Mark Ricciuto or Andrew McLeod, he threw his lot in with Scott Welsh. “I don’t know if it was his blond tips or that he kicked goals … I just loved the number 17.”

A skinny kid of average height who shot up in Year 10, Brand came home one day to find two West Adelaide officials in earnest discussion with his parents. They spoke of finding him a job, somewhere to live, of his prospects as a footballer. “Three or four weeks later I moved to Adelaide.”

He was just 16, started an electrician’s apprenticeship, grew up in a hurry. “I was pretty nervous going into it … I didn’t know how to cook, how to clean, didn’t know how to do any of that. I just had to work it out for myself, and I guess that’s helped me in the long run.”

His top-age under 18s year was hampered by a calf injury that cost him two months of the pre-season. Hawthorn saw enough to take him with a fourth-round pick, then his first AFL campaign stalled with a summer quad injury. Coming into 2014 he felt fit and strong, only to be tested again in his first real chance to impress.

“It’s a bit of a blur to be honest,” Brand says of the lead-up to the opening NAB Challenge came against Collingwood, when he phoned his parents full of excitement with the news that he was in the team. Minutes into the game, in the first contest he made in a Hawthorn jumper, he dislocated his shoulder.

His reaction speaks of a young man with a broad gaze. “To be honest the first thing I thought of was Mum and Dad and all my family and friends watching on TV.” He tried to convince the medicos to let him go back on. “That didn’t really work out because I couldn’t lift my arm.”

The cold reality of reconstructive surgery soon settled on him. Having to repeat the procedure last year was tantamount to torture, but Brand was unbowed. His parents rallied around as he convalesced, resuming the domestic rituals that were literally too much of a chore. The club assured him they saw a bright future, all in good time.

“A lot of patience,” he says of the strength it’s given him. “But I think a lot of resilience. It’s probably the best way to teach someone, being in an environment like this, learning that patience and how important it is. It certainly put me in a better position going forward to where I am now.”

Each game he plays, each week of learning, makes him feel like he’s grown a little more. Watching his fellow Hawks win the premiership in each year he’s been at the club has been joyous, frustrating and, he admits, a bit weird. Fit and in the mix, he’s itching to be in the thick of a tilt at history.

“Hopefully we can change everyone’s opinion by the end of the year, and all the people who are writing us off, hopefully we can stick it to them and win another one. I would certainly love to be part of that. I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure we’re successful again.”