HAWTHORN defender Rick Ladson says the turning point in his career came at the end of the 2005 season when former skipper Richie Vandenberg took him under his wing and helped him turn into a key part of the side's make-up.

Looking back on his 98-game career – he debuted in 2003 – Ladson said there was no particular defining moment where he felt as if he had made it in the AFL, instead just an evolution of his game.

"There are so many ups and downs in footy and there has been a couple [of defining moments] along the way," Ladson said.

"Richie Vandenberg was fantastic for me, over the time he was at our footy club, especially leading into his retirement last year. It was probably after the 2005 season when I sat down with him and started to think I belonged now and was capable.

"He was fantastic for my development and for this club and he set a standard over a couple years of being captain. And we've taken it on this year and gone ahead with it."

Ladson, who was drafted at No.16 in the 2001 NAB AFL Draft, battled some debilitating injuries early in his career, before stepping up to play 68 of Hawthorn's past 70 matches.

"I'd never had any injuries before I came down here and I did my knee in my first year," Ladson said.

"[Former coach] 'Schwabby' [Peter Schwab] told me I was going to play against the Tigers, who I used to barrack for, and then I went out to training and did my knee and missed the rest of that year.

"I tore the lateral meniscus off the bone, so they had to reattach that. I've also had a shoulder and wrist [injury] and I dislocated my elbow and broke my arm in 2005."

Ladson reflected on being drafted by former recruiting manager John Turnbull and playing under Schwab.

"'JT' was fantastic in making me feel at home straight away and it took a while to get to know 'Schwabby' a bit. I had 'Schwabby' for three years and I didn't play much footy in those years – I had a lot of injuries," Ladson said.
"I still speak to 'JT' a bit and I've run into 'Schwabby' a couple of times over the last couple of years, which has been good to catch up.

"He was going to give me a go first up and throw me out there, even though I was a lot skinnier back then. It didn't turn out that way – he obviously backed me still – but I just kept getting injured and it didn't help the cause.

"Whereas I've been able to play some footy under 'Clarko' and back myself in more."

Ladson said there was a significant difference between Schwab and Clarkson.

"What 'Clarko' and his coaching staff have brought to the table has changed our football club," Ladson said.

"They've changed a lot of our careers – I was at the crossroads just before 'Clarko' came. Over the last four years that he's been here, he's helped me get my career back on track.

"'Clarko' helped me out with a little bit more self-belief and he just backed my ability. I was part of that youth policy, even though I was just a little bit older than 'Roughy' [Jarryd Roughead] and that [group]. I was still a part of that."