ALEX Woodward arrived at Hawthorn via the 2011 NAB AFL Draft, shortly after captaining the Sandringham Dragons to the TAC Cup premiership.

The tough in-and-under midfielder impressed everyone at the Hawks in his first pre-season with the club, earning a NAB Cup debut against Greater Western Sydney in March.

Sadly, Woodward ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the NAB Cup clash, requiring a reconstruction that ended his season.

He talked to hawthornfc.com.au this week.

How's the knee?

It's travelling really well. The last few months have been pretty solid. I'm back up and running now, and really pushing the limits with it, so I'm enjoying the rehab so far.

What does a typical day involve at the moment?

Today I've got a fairly big running session, which could be anything from sprinting to a bit of fartlek (a form of interval training invented in Sweden). They're really working me over, which will be a good thing coming into next season.

What's the next stage from here?

I'll start getting into some more intensity in terms of agility. That's probably the one area that needs to take its time a bit more. But that's pretty normal when you're coming back from an ACL. Early on I was doing a heap of bike work and swimming, and I've moved into the straight line running. At the moment it's more about conditioning in terms of running; just getting fitter. I really want to ramp up the agility, and probably some jumping as well. From there it'll eventually move into the contested and football-related stuff.
 
So what's your aim? Back into full training for the start of pre-season?

I'll definitely get a full pre-season in. My goal is to try and be involved with the team's training sessions come finals. I'll have to get ticked off by the physios to do that. But I'll do a full pre-season and hopefully get into a few practice matches next year.

 How frustrating has the year been?

It's not the best way to start an AFL career, but one positive thing is that I'm still young. I see this very much as a challenge, career-wise. I tried not to get too negative about the injury. I approached every rehab session as a step forward in my healing process. So I've stayed pretty positive about things.

Have you had help or advice from anyone in that regard?

I've become pretty good friends with Max Bailey. He's obviously had three knee reconstructions. And Stephen Gilham (who ruptured his ACL in 2011) has given me a few tips, too. It's been very useful and I've taken it on board.

What has their advice been?

Just not to get too down about it, and not to place too big of an expectation on myself. Just keep doing the right things in terms of rehab, and follow orders. It's good advice.

Have you had a role on match days while you haven't been playing?

I'm just trying to learn from each game. I try and watch a particular player in the midfield, whether it be from our team or the opposition, just to see how they play the game. I'm only young, so I'm trying to learn as quickly as possible about structures and game day formation and those types of things.

And in terms of inside, clearance-winning midfielders, you've got some good role models at Hawthorn to learn from, haven't you?

Yeah, in particular Sam Mitchell and Brad Sewell. In the pre-season I was really trying to learn from them, and I still am now, even though I'm hampered with injury. Come game day, I'm really watching how they play the game.

What have you noticed they do that makes them so good?

Mitchell is a really smart footballer. He's always thinking a couple of steps ahead about how he's going to get the footy. Sewell is just all out contested football. He's pretty good to watch in the in-close stuff. I also look at Jordan Lewis, who is pretty hard at the footy as well.

Before you were injured you'd had a really good pre-season. Were you aiming to play senior footy this year?

I wasn't looking too far ahead. I was setting short-term goals. So I was pretty happy to make my NAB Cup debut. Even though I only lasted three minutes, it was better than nothing! I was just looking forward to each week, whether that be at Box Hill or AFL level, and trying to play some consistent footy each week to make a good impression.

A few quick ones for you.

Who have you become good friends with at the club?

I'd like to think I'm mates with a fair few of the boys around the club. Naturally you become pretty good friends with your draft class, so I'm close with Bradley Hill, Andrew Boseley and Jordan Kelly. But I moved out of home and I'm living with Jack Gunston and Luke Lowden, and we're pretty good mates too.

What are Jack and Luke like as housemates?

Really good. Jack is getting a few senior games, and Luke is playing at Box Hill, so I try to watch both games when I can.

Who looks after most of the cooking and cleaning at home?

I like to think we all do a bit. It's a brand new house, so we've got to try to keep it clean and not let it get out of hand.

Who did you barrack for as a kid?

My dad was from Fremantle, so I barracked for them. It was pretty frustrating, because they didn't win many games.

Whose poster did you have on your wall?

Early on I was a Tony Modra fan, and then Matthew Pavlich.

Do you follow or play other sports?

I used to play a bit of tennis, but I hurt my knee when I was 16, so I stopped and just stuck with footy.

What's your favourite movie?

I'm a big Will Smith fan, so probably 'I Am Legend'.

What about favourite TV show and book?

I don't really watch a lot of TV or read. I'm more of a movie fan.

Favourite meal?

I like pasta.

Favourite holiday destination?

I always wanted to go to Canada, because I like to ski. But I won't be doing that for a while now.

What would you be doing if you weren't playing footy?

I'd be at uni. I deferred this year, but I'll be into it part-time next year, doing something to do with business management or property.

What are you doing to take your mind off footy this year, given you've deferred the study?

I try to keep close ties with my family. I see them a fair bit during the week and they get my mind off footy. It's good to have that bit of support, especially when you're not playing. They keep me upbeat and positive about it.

Do you have any superstitions or habits?

I always wear two pairs of socks when I play, ankle socks under footy socks.

And finally, you're from the same junior club as Shane Savage: Noble Park. What's going on out there to produce such good football talent?

It's a bit of a footy factory, isn't it? We also produced Adam Treloar, who is playing some good footy for Greater Western Sydney. It's a different side of Melbourne. The kids just get brought up in a different sort of way, and they really enjoy their footy and get stuck into it when it comes to game day. It's a bit of a passion thing. It's the only real avenue of having a bit of fun, and really showing what we can do talent-wise.