HAWTHORN ruckman and forward David Hale admits he's come a long way since he was on the football scrapheap two years ago — not that he's going to make a big deal of it.

At the end of 2010, Hale was at on the outer at North Melbourne after playing only 12 games that season. His highlight for the year was playing in a VFL premiership team with North Ballarat.

On Grand Final eve 2012, however, he was in Hawthorn's first car in the Grand Final parade. It was certainly a trade-up from the training session followed by a team meeting that led into North Ballarat's grand final against the Northern Knights in 2010.

"We didn’t have a parade through Ballarat before the VFL final," Hale said while nursing his daughter Mia.

"Obviously this is on a much bigger scale. It's quite a step."

Hale, who's now 28, played 129 games for North Melbourne after making his debut in 2003. In 2008 he kicked 37 goals to be the club's leading goalkicker.

In 2010, he started reasonably under new coach Brad Scott but played only two games in the second half of the season. He played one of those games, against Essendon in round 17, after playing four quarters with North Ballarat earlier in the day.

After the 2010 season both club and player felt it was time to move on. Hale was traded to Hawthorn in exchange for a first-round compensation pick and selection 72 in the national draft. And so his luck began to change.

Hale took advantage of injuries to ruckman Max Bailey to play 20 games with the Hawks in 2011 and he's played 23 games this season, missing only the round 18 match against Essendon because of a bruised foot.

He was recruited as a tall forward and relief ruckman. In the first match against the Swans this season, in round five, he was the foil to Broc McCauley. He had 12 hit-outs and kicked two goals.

Since then, however, he's been the main ruckman, with support from key forward Jarryd Roughead. Originally a makeshift combination, it's developed into a weapon for the Hawks.

Their biggest test was against the Swans in round 22 at the MCG, against Shane Mumford and Mike Pyke. Mumford had 31 hit-outs and Pyke had 21.

Hale had 33 hit-outs, bettering his fancied opponents, and Roughead had nine. Importantly, the Hawks won the clearances by two.

"It was a big task for Roughie and I," Hale said.

"There's nothing in particular we did that day. It was just a good battle with Mummy and Pikey."

Hale struggled to pinpoint the reason behind his improved fortunes at Hawthorn.

"I'm just enjoying my football," he said.

Defender Josh Gibson was Hale's teammate at North Melbourne before crossing to the Hawks before the 2010 season. He said it was noticeable that Hale had grown in confidence since joining the Hawks.

"He's got a new lease of life," Gibson said. "He's playing with real confidence at the minute, which is fantastic.

"I think he's really thrived on being in this playing group. His form has been super since he's come to the club."

Roughead said his combination with Hale has evolved as the season has progressed.

"We've been able to get that chemistry together and play consistent footy," Roughead said. "It's been gold."

Hale averages 14 disposals and four marks a game in 2012. He averages 23 hit-outs and three clearances, which adds up to a healthy return for a player whose future was uncertain in 2010.

"It's been a pretty successful last couple of years so hopefully we can top it off tomorrow and get the job done, I suppose," he said.