Hard-running midfielder Tom Scully will make his club debut for Hawthorn on Sunday a full year after suffering a horrific ankle injury.
Scully, 27, was picked up by the Hawks from GWS for the bargain basement price of a fourth-round draft pick in the 2018 trade period, such were the concerns over how he would recover from the injury.
"There's been a lot of commentary around when I would return and when I would play again," the former No.1 draft pick told the Hawks' website on Friday.
"But for me, I haven't really been focused on that. I've had a pretty clear plan from the outset outlined by the guys here at Hawthorn.
"I've had great confidence that I would get back and this week is another step forward."
Earlier on Friday, coach Alastair Clarkson said the decision on Scully's return would be made after consultation with the club's coaching and medical staff.
"He has spent the best part of the last six to eight weeks in performance phase to get himself ready to play and we have to make the choice whether he's ready," Clarkson told reporters.
"It's always difficult when a guy is returning from a long-term injury which side he plays in, how much time does he need.
"It has been 12 months, which is a long time to miss. We deliberately held him back last week after a heavy training block and he's really fit and ready to go."
The Hawks also had the option of giving Scully a run in the VFL with affiliate Box Hill, but decided instead to pitch him into senior action against the Western Bulldogs, who had an impressive first-up win over Sydney.
"It (recovery) hasn't staggered us because we did all our due diligence with all the scans and that stuff. He's such a pro and the thing is he hasn't had any games over the 12 months as the lure to get him back," Clarkson said.
"With GWS, they were hoping to get him back for finals and there's always that dangling carrot, but his ankle just wasn't ready for the load and that's why he couldn't get back.
"We were always confident if we were just patient."
