A HEART-TO-HEART with coach Alastair Clarkson earlier this year helped Xavier Ellis believe he could still play a role in Hawthorn's premiership campaign.

The 24-year-old had just suffered the third, and most serious, in a string of mishaps that threatened to derail his season.

Playing his comeback match for Box Hill in June, Ellis' leg twisted underneath him a mere minute before the final siren, tearing the medial ligament in his knee.

He had just recovered from a calf tear, and before that an injured foot, and now faced another two months on the sidelines.

Ellis was downcast, but Clarkson offered some timely perspective.

"Would you rather play the first five games of the season, or the last five?" the coach asked.

That goal became Ellis' sole focus, and he now stands on the cusp of becoming a two-time premiership hero.

The midfielder's journey to this point has been a tale of patience and persistence on the part of both club and player.

He won his first flag at age 20, in just his second season of senior football.

That he is still mostly known for his performance in the 2008 Grand Final, where he gathered 28 disposals and booted a goal, says a lot about what has followed: operations on both hips, a "crook" foot and knee, and various other strains and setbacks.

"When I was 20, if you'd told me it'd be four years before I'd play in another Grand Final and my body would turn to shit for a couple of years, I probably would have laughed," Ellis said on Friday.

Clarkson's faith has never wavered, partly due to Ellis' tremendous character.

On his arrival at Waverley at the end of 2005, the No.3 draft pick immediately endeared himself to teammates and coaches with his laidback nature and love of a laugh.

Former Hawk Rick Ladson believes it is those traits that have helped Ellis through the tough times.

"When you see people that have a lot of injuries, and you see the club stand by them, I think it comes back to the character of the person and how they conduct themselves," Ladson said.

"Xavier is never down in the dumps; he's a very likeable guy.

"He comes to training and he gets the work done, and makes sure he's trying to get back as quickly as he possibly can.

"I think that's why the club has stood by him; because he puts in the time and effort, and his character is second-to-none."

There's also the small matter of talent.

A standout at junior level, Ellis played for Melbourne Grammar, and for Gippsland Power alongside Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury.

He starred for Vic Country in the 2005 national championships, winning All Australian selection.

And he gathered 37 possessions for the Power in that year's TAC Cup qualifying final, the AFL's end-of-season scouting report describing him as "ready-to-play AFL" and rating him at or near the top in every category.

 It was a surprise to no one, then, when Ellis was selected so high in the draft, with Thomas just ahead and Pendlebury just behind.

(Thomas was also rated "ready to play AFL", while Pendlebury's report said he had "the potential to play AFL".)
 
Ladson ranks Ellis among the best on-field minds he's played with.

"He'd be one of the first picked most weeks if his body was up and about all year," Ladson said.

"He's a genuine footballer.

"He doesn't look quick, but he's pretty quick over 10 or 20 metres.

"His skill level and decision making are up there with the best I've seen.

"He's just got that touch by foot that hurts the opposition."

When Ellis runs onto the MCG on Saturday, his knee will once again be taped.

It is a problem he has had to manage since his return, but he described it on Friday as nothing more than a "niggle".

He will take confidence from knowing he has passed football's biggest test once before.

"It's good to have it in your back pocket, that you haven't had a dog of a day on the big stage," Ellis said.

Ladson, who kicked the sealer against Geelong four years ago, remembers the young Ellis' star turn that day well.

He'll be watching from the stands this time, among a group of former Hawks, and hoping the "skinny kid" from Lakes Entrance can deliver again.

"He was very hard at the contested footy that day, and I remember him making very smart decisions with the ball," Ladson said.

"On Saturday, you never know; if he plays well enough he might bring home a Norm Smith and a premiership medallion."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs