MICHAEL Osborne is perhaps the most accurate barometer of his team’s travels over the past couple of years.

After years trying to work his way up and prove himself at AFL level, Osborne had a standout year in 2008, finishing fifth in the best and fairest of the side that won the AFL premiership.

But 2009 for Osborne and the Hawks has not been easy.

Cruelled by a quad injury over the pre-season, Osborne came back to play against Geelong in round one – his 100th AFL game. But he injured his hamstring and was forced to watch on as his teammates got off to an unexpected slow start to their premiership defence.

He says his career-best season was simply due to his body doing the right thing by him.

“I had a few injuries over the past couple of years and to get a full pre-season under my belt and to get out there and really push myself was good. I had a good year and getting fifth in the best and fairest showed that,” he said.

As for 2009, it has been a source of frustration for Osborne and his team.

“I lost a bit of fitness over the year and tried to work on getting that back up. After another full pre-season I was confident but having a few hiccups with injuries hampered me early on and I struggled to get going there for a while,” he said.

But Osborne stressed that 2008 was by no means a fluke season for the Hawks, rather the result of years of toil from all concerned.

“There was a lot of hard work put in over a number of seasons by the whole team. Individually I know the boys had their own goals as well and were looking to always improve,” he said.

“I don’t think it was a case of everything clicking and just happening. It was what we were working towards and it was a reward for a lot of effort the coaches and players put in.”

Osborne was drafted to the club as a rookie in 2001 and worked hard to establish himself.  He was promoted to the senior list three times before earning a permanent spot.

His final promotion came at the start of 2003 where he seized his opportunity and finished 10th in the Hawks’ best and fairest that year.

He said he had learnt plenty from having to work from the bottom up in the AFL world.

“I always have to look to improve. I think that’s one thing Clarko tries to do for the team, always looking for the team to improve so that individually you’ve got to be asking yourself that as well. You have to persevere and know what you want and how to work towards it,” he said.

It is no secret that Hawthorn’s 2009 has not exactly gone to plan, but Osborne’s never-say-die attitude is no more evident than in the lead-up to the final two games of the season that will decide if the Hawks are to appear in September.

“It’s been a bit frustrating but the boys just want to finish the year off strongly. If we can just have a crack at the next couple of games it keeps the finals hopes alive,” he said.