The Lowdown Podcast: Hamish Hartlett says time away from AFL footy has given him a new perspective and appreciation for being back out there

Hamish Hartlett says he didn’t realise how much he would miss the adrenaline rush of playing AFL footy until he had 14 months out with injury. But now he’s back and hungry for more.

Hamish Hartlett made his return to AFL footy for the Power on the weekend. Picture: Richard Wainwright (AAP).

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Power vice-captain Hamish Hartlett says 14 months out of AFL footy has made him realise how much he missed the adrenaline rush of competing in the heat of battle.

Hartlett made a stellar return to the Power side against Fremantle on the weekend and while his side lost, the 28-year-old didn’t miss a beat.

He had 12 disposals in the first quarter on his way to 23 for the game and was among Port Adelaide’s best for his physicality at the ball and the man.

Speaking as a special guest on The Advertiser’s The Lowdown Podcast this week, Hartlett said missing a year with a knee reconstruction and then subsequent hamstring injuries gave him a new appreciation for just being able to play the game particularly at the highest level.

“Now that I’ve spent such a long period of time out of the game, particularly at AFL level, any opportunity to get out there and get involved even in the warm-up or play a quarter of footy and be involved in a contest is one that I certainly won’t be taking for granted from now on,” he said.

“I’ve been one that’s been obsessed with footy for a long period of time and have loved the game for as long as I can remember.

“So it’s just about enjoying the fact that we’re out there again rather than taking everything around it so seriously — particularly around results — obviously I care about results and want to win, don’t get me wrong, but just being able to be out there and compete is something I will no longer take for granted.”

The vice-captain had 12 touches in the first quarter and 23 for the game. Picture: Paul Kane (Getty).

Hartlett was aiming at an early-season return but had a series of setbacks with his hamstring and played three SANFL games before a senior call-up.

“It was brilliant to be playing with some of my best mates and just playing at that intensity of football is something I really missed, so you get a bit of exposure at SANFL level to the intensity of a game of football then AFL takes it to another level.

“The pressure around the contest and speed that the ball is moving, it’s almost something that’s very hard to replicate in any other form of life.”

Hartlett said he was relieved to find the footy early against the Dockers.

“It’s funny, particularly in the backline you can run the exact same patterns you would normally run in another quarter of footy and not touch it, but it was just one of those things I was getting those ricochets that were falling my way,” he said.

“It was great to know and reaffirm that I can still keep up at the level so early on, usually it takes a half of footy or a full game to re-adapt but to get the hands on it early on was great.

“I would have liked to have done it throughout the whole game, I was coming in a quarter-time thinking ‘I’m on for a 40 here’.”

Hartlett was praised by coach Ken Hinkley for his attack on the ball particularly after he collided heavily with Freo big man Brennan Cox in the final quarter, but he reported no soreness after the game.

“I’m generally feeling pretty good. A few weeks ago against Glenelg I was quite sore a couple of days afterwards but I’ve pulled up pretty well,” he said.

“No less or more sore than a usual game of footy so I’ll get ready to go again this weekend.”