XAVIER Ellis endured a frustrating 2011 season, but an end of year trip to the Kokoda Track helped the Hawthorn midfielder put things in perspective.

Plagued by a recurring calf/Achilles injury, Ellis played only eight senior matches, and missed the Hawks' finals campaign.

But the November trek of Kokoda - where his grandfather had fought in World War II - delivered a reminder to be grateful for his hand in life.

"When you're carrying sandbags up those mountains, you can't complain too much when you know that your grandfather was shooting and carrying guns and all sorts of stuff around the mountain," Ellis told hawthornfc.com.au on Thursday from the Hawks' Australia Post community camp in Tasmania.

"We're playing a game of football on a Saturday arvo - we're not doing anything too stressful like the people who fought for their country did.

"So it put life in a bit of perspective.

"It makes you realise that you're doing something that you love, and worse things can happen than playing a bad game of footy."

That Ellis was even on the trip was a good sign for his prospects of a successful 2012.

Hawthorn players only have to make the trek once, but the 23-year-old had been prevented from joining previous expeditions by post-season surgery. (The club sends a group every second year.)

Ellis arrived back from Kokoda, where he and his teammates sometimes hiked for 15 hours in a single day, and leapt straight into full training.

He has only missed three sessions since.

"It's always good to turn up without crutches and start with the main training group," Ellis said.

"If you can get the work in early, you can set your season up."

And with a better understanding of his grandfather's war experience still at the forefront of his mind, the 2008 premiership player has set some simple goals for this year.

"It's just to stay fit and enjoy playing footy," he said.

"I just want to go out there and have a bit of fun, and hopefully if the team plays well together we'll make the finals and anything can happen from there."

Ellis will take the field in Hawthorn's intra-club practice match in Launceston on Friday morning, after a week in Hobart connecting with fans.

"It's been a busy week, but it's been quite enjoyable to get out of Melbourne for a few days and see another part of Tassie that we don't get to see too often," he said.

"There are plenty of kids getting around in their Hawks jumpers and hats, so it's good to see that the work we've done in Launceston where we play our games has spread to Hobart as well."

Mark Macgugan covers Hawks news for afl.com.au and hawthornfc.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_MarkM.

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