BRAD Sewell says he never doubted his ability to bounce back and again cement his place in the Hawthorn team after being dropped during the season.
The midfielder lost his spot in the Hawks' line-up for the round 16 clash with Port Adelaide, after gathering only 12 disposals against Geelong the week before.
Club great Dermott Brereton weighed in, saying he didn't feel Sewell would form part of coach Alastair Clarkson's best 22 come September.
But the 29-year-old was recalled a week later, and is now a certainty to be in the team for Saturday's Grand Final against Fremantle.
"I've played well in big games; I've played well in finals before," Sewell said on Tuesday morning.
"I think everybody at some stage goes through little fluctuations, and I sort of had mine in the mid part of the year, but I've bounced back really well."
In a team where almost every on-baller rotates through different positions, Sewell admitted he had become "pigeon-holed" as a midfielder.
After being recalled, he spent time at half-back as he sought to add another dimension to his game.
He also cancelled media commitments to allow himself to focus fully on football.
"You don't want to get to the end of the year and wonder, 'what if?'" Sewell said.
"So I guess it was just sharpening the focus and putting everything else to one side, and making sure all the energies are focussed where they needed to be."
Sewell was superb for the Hawks in last year's Grand Final, gathering 33 disposals, winning 11 clearances and laying 11 tackles as his team lost to the Sydney Swans by 10 points.
He was later awarded Hawthorn's best player in the finals.
The 2007 club best and fairest winner said his record in big games wouldn't cause him to relax ahead of this week's premiership showdown, but it would be a source of confidence.
"As soon as you relax or take the foot off the pedal, you're in all sorts," Sewell said.
"You may take a little bit of confidence out of it, but in terms of your focus and your preparation during the week, it doesn't affect that at all."
