After the first four years of Zach Reid's career were cruelled by injury and illness, he's finally injury free and making up for lost time.
"It was definitely challenging. I was pick 10 and when you get drafted high you think it's all going to go well for you. Especially coming off a junior career where I didn't have injuries, I thought 'This is going to be good' and then it hits you and it keeps banking," he said.
"I always say you have to get through that hard part of the first five weeks after an injury and once your body is used to it you'll be fine. But I'd get to that period then have a setback, or I'd get close to playing then I wouldn't.
"It's hard mentally. If you attach your wellbeing and your happiness to you playing footy, you can have some dips with your wellbeing. When I was younger I was all football so when I was not playing, things are hard and when I was playing, I was happy.
"As I got older and had more injuries, I realised I had to jump off that rollercoaster and find some stuff I like doing outside of footy and stuff to focus on so you can still be disciplined and tick your rehab off, but it's not the be all and end all."