IT HAS taken him six years and three knee reconstructions, but Hawthorn ruckman Max Bailey is finally finding his feet on the football field.

This season, Bailey has played eight games, adding to the precious six matches he had played between 2006 and 2010.

Bailey's journey back from injury has not been easy.

He ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the 2007 pre-season and then again in 2008 in his return game with the Box Hill Hawks.

He finally returned to the AFL in 2009 only to sustain the same injury in his left knee.

After a long hiatus, he finally made his comeback this year in round nine against the Sydney Swans, where he had 19 hit outs against Shane Mumford but more importantly got through unscathed.

Since then Bailey has improved with every game and against Melbourne, he was one of the Hawks' best in their 54-point win.

Bailey had a career best 17 disposals, 18 hit outs and nine clearances and admitted after the game it had taken him longer than he anticipated to get back into the swing of things.

"It's probably taken me a little longer than I initially thought it would, to get the feel of the game, to get to where I want to play and get used to how the teams plays," Bailey told afl.com.au.

"The game is so much quicker since I last played, and with all the rule changes it's taken a little longer than I thought to get back.

"It's been a little frustrating at times but I feel like now I can start to build as I'm getting used to everything."

Coach Alastair Clarkson was full of praise for the 24-year-old after the win, especially following his terrific chase down of Melbourne ruckman Stefan Martin, who ran second in the 2008 Grand Final sprint.

"The big giraffe was chasing him down and it was great to see Max do that," Clarkson said.

"He's a great competitor. I think he had a few clearances too for us today.

"He's still got a lot to learn about the craft but just getting back-to-back games and training sessions is outstanding for him, and he got really able support from David Hale today as well."

Despite improving every game, Bailey's troublesome knees still need to be managed on a week-to-week basis, and last week's bye was a welcome rest for the 24-year-old.

"I was starting to feel a bit sore and sorry for myself so seven weeks before finals it's good to have a break and now we can get right back into it," Bailey said.

"I've just got to come to terms with the fact that I can't do as much as what I'd like to.

"The first half of the week I'll use as recovery and then the second half I'll use as training, whereas the other guys train earlier.

"It's just a matter of managing it because each week is different as well, sometimes I pull up really well so I can do a bit more and sometimes I feel a bit worse so I can't do as much."