Former Hawk Travis Tuck puts his life back together with Bloods

TRAVIS Tuck - the only footballer to receive three strikes under the AFL's illicit drug policy - is rebuilding his career and life in Adelaide.

FORMER Hawthorn player Travis Tuck - the only footballer to receive three strikes under the AFL's illicit drug policy - is rebuilding his career and life in Adelaide.

The son of Hawks legend Michael joined West Adelaide in the SANFL this season and says the environment at his new club, combined with a new job and a blossoming romance, has him in "a really good spot".

"I've got my football - which I'm happy with - I've got work - which keeps me stable - and I've got things just starting up with a new girl," Tuck said.

"With those three things I feel really happy, I feel grounded."

In his first extensive interview since his battle with drugs, Tuck says he has found peace.

He's dominating on-field for the Bloods, working full-time in sales at Harvey Norman at Gepps Cross and is dating a woman he'd prefer not to name right now.

"I'm just in a good place," he said.

"Obviously the support of my family has been paramount. I wouldn't be in as good a position without them, they've been very supportive," he said.

"What I've done in the past - it hurts me to think about what I put them through. All I can do now is do everything I can to make a positive outcome in the future and make them happy.

"If that's working at Harvey Norman full-time or in the big league kicking goals, it doesn't bother me. As long as they're happy, I'm happy."

Tuck faces a huge battle to convince an AFL club to take a chance on him but his performances at West are becoming harder to ignore.

Since a mid-season pep talk from older brother Shane - who spent a year with West before being drafted by Richmond -Tuck has been outstanding. In a six-game stretch he's averaged 25 disposals and 10 clearances and is playing like a man possessed.

"The footy he's playing - and the style of game he's playing - there would be half a dozen to a dozen AFL teams who would love to have him," West coach Andrew Collins said.

"He's such a bull. Right now I don't think he's got a peer in the SANFL when it comes to winning clearances."

An AFL recall is no longer the dominating factor it once was for Tuck.

At age 25 he's realistic about his possibilities but given the longevity that runs in his family (his father Michael played until he was 38 and brother Shane finished fourth in Richmond's best and fairest last year at age 30) there's reason to believe he has at least another five years at the top.

And Tuck, who believes he's definitely playing better football, insists he can tick the box off-field as well.

"If a club is pretty interested they're going to sit down and have a chat with you. All I can do is tell them how I truly am," he said.

"I'm in a really good spot and if I did get an opportunity I'd take it with two hands and give it a good shake.

"My life and footy are going in the right direction and I'm sure plenty of people around the club would tell you the same thing."

Tuck isn't ready to talk about the circumstances surrounding his addiction, the 12-week ban he received from the AFL and the circus that followed.

But with the help of addiction expert Dr Jon Currie and Hawthorn club doctor Peter Baquie he said he's now better equipped to deal with life.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself with football - obviously with dad having a very good career, Shane was doing well and I was probably slipping a little bit in terms of my footy," he said.

"And I didn't communicate my problems with people. I kept them to myself. I didn't really have a release.

"That's the way it went.

"Nowadays I'm very happy, very talkative around the club. I'm really happy with where I am at this point in time."

Tuck lived with Bloods reserves coach Ben Watkins when he moved to Adelaide in November last year but has since moved out and is living with under-18 player Dylan Male, from Roxby Downs.

He's also begun studying a Certificate IV in youth work and can see it as a future career path.

Hopefully after his AFL career finishes.