WHEN Alex Woodward was drafted to Hawthorn, he was a talented in and under player but by his own admission lacked the endurance needed to play AFL football.

Woodward was taken by the Hawks with pick 58 in the 2011 draft and has played just one full game against opposition in that time.

He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the opening five minutes of his first NAB Cup match in 2012 and when making his comeback ruptured the same knee, his right, at training the following January.

Two years in rehabilitation forced the youngster to do countless hours of running, an aspect of training he admits was his least favourite as a junior.

But it had its benefits.

While he ran laps of the oval at the Ricoh Centre and as his teammates prepared for matches during the 2012 and 2013 home and away seasons, Woodward built the endurance required of an AFL player.  

So, when he played his first competitive match against opposition at Etihad Stadium two Thursdays ago, in Hawthorn’s 131 point win over Brisbane in the NAB Challenge, he was pleasantly surprised at how well he ran out the game.

“The last two seasons I’ve done so much running and that’s held me in good stead in terms of developing an engine that’s good enough to play AFL footy,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“I ran out the first NAB game really well, I didn’t cramp up and felt really good after the game.

“Prior to being drafted I had no engine at all, I actually hated running so I guess that’s the positive to come out of rehab – I’ve built that engine and I’m feeling a lot fitter than I was.

“I feel really confident that I can make an impact when I do play.”

Now fully fit and, following an impressive showing in the win over the Lions, Woodward has the assurances he needs to press his case for senior selection in 2014.

While he’s excited by the prospect, the modest and level-headed youngster isn’t getting ahead of himself.

He knows though, every week he can stay fully fit is just another opportunity to show Hawthorn what he can do.

“I just need to put things in perspective and take it one week at a time to build some consistent footy and at least get noticed and break into that side as soon as possible,” he said.

“I see every week as an opportunity for me to try and put my hand up to get senior selection.”

Two years is a long wait for any youngster, so Woodward isn’t planning on wasting any time.

His goal for 2014 is clear.

“I’m hoping to achieve my debut, I want to get into the senior Hawks side as soon as I can,” he said.

“Last season I watched on the sidelines and saw both teams – Box Hill and the AFL achieve the ultimate success and myself, Matt Suckling, Ryan Schoenmakers and Brendan Whitecross were just about the only guys who didn’t get a medal.

“If I could play some decent, consistent footy this year then hopefully I can have a crack at a debut. If not, to get some success at any level would be really good.”