After having his 2007 season wrecked by an achilles injury, it's been a long road back for midfielder Tim Clarke.
The 25-year-old has finally returned to the field after almost 12 months on the sidelines.
"It was a pretty tough year last year, watching the boys do what they did, and they had a great year," Clarke told hawthornfc.com.au, after the Hawks' 34-point win over
"But, I learned a lot. With those things, you learn how much you miss the game when you can't play.
"When I got out there tonight and I was a little bit tired, I just thought back to when I was training last year with a couple of the other boys who were injured as well, and just being out there playing … it's just so much better."
With the achilles a renowned tricky area to fully repair, Clarke admitted the injury will continue to haunt him this season. However, he knows what he has to do to keep himself on the park.
"I feel like my function is back, although I do feel it occasionally. On a hard ground like Telstra Dome, sometimes it might pull up a little bit tight or sore," he said.
"That's just when you've had achilles problems though. Anyone who's had them, you can wake up with it sore in the morning and sometimes it's sore after a session.
"You've got to be careful backing up sessions; you can't do too many tough sessions in a row.
"You've got to make sure after a game you really shut it down with ice and look after it. It's just about management, and all the fitness staff and doctors have been really good in helping me out and managing it over the pre-season."
Clarke, who sat out from round three onwards last year, said he endured mixed emotions watching the Hawks progress through to their first finals series since 2001.
"I had Max Bailey and Mark Williams with me, and it was very exciting watching the boys but it was very tough not being a part of it," he said.
"It's a tough thing to try and sum up. You sit there watching your mates and it's great for them, but you just want to get out there.
"It just really struck home how much I wanted to be out there playing football in a successful team, and that's all I want to do now."
Now, with a strong fitness base behind him after a relatively full pre-season, Clarke is hoping he can continue to fulfil his role in the Hawks' side.
After his 23-possession performance on Saturday night, it's hard to see that not occurring.
"It's a week-to-week thing after coming back from injury. It's sort of a wait and see kind of thing, as I get used to game play and just being back in footy," he said.
"It's been really good, and we had a good hit-out tonight and the boys did some really good things, and we fought out the game well.
"I'm not too sure how I'm going to do [the rest of the pre-season]. I'm available to play and if I play 50, 80 or 90 per cent, I'm not too fussed.
"I'll just go out there and play my part."
