The 23-year-old took another step last weekend in his comeback from the torn ACL he suffered in round four last year, playing his first game for Box Hill.

Playing as a key defender, Schoenmakers had 16 disposals, took four marks and kicked an important late goal as Box Hill defeated Werribee by 25 points.

"There's no real set program in place," he told AFL.com.au this week. "It will depend on how I pull up. 

"Everyone’s different, but I’ll need a few more games to get some match fitness, to get into the swing of it and get my confidence back. It could be one week; it could be four. I’m not sure how it will pan out, but I’ll just keep ticking the boxes."

Schoenmakers' return on the weekend also marked the end of the long and often lonely rehab process, which in his case was made all the more difficult given that the Hawks went on to win last year's premiership.

The 23-year-old ruptured his ACL in round four last season at Aurora Stadium against Fremantle, putting paid to a season which, on the form displayed until then, was shaping to be his best yet for the Hawks.

"I was pretty happy with the way I started last year and to have a couple of strong games, because the years before that had obviously been a steep learning curve.  

"I was building into my role, but I felt like I was playing some good footy so that’s why it was disappointing to go down like I did.

Schoenmakers' return for Box Hill last weekend came a few days shy of the one-year anniversary of his knee injury. 

"I was obviously excited and rapt to play," he said. 

"I went into the game really relaxed, tried to approach it as a training session and another step in my rehab and didn’t put too much pressure on myself to perform."

During his time out, he formed a close bond with Matthew Suckling, the rangy defender who hurt his knee a month before in almost identical fashion, suffering the same injury at the same part of Aurora Stadium.

"You share a bond because you’re going through the same experiences," Schoenmakers said. 

"You get pretty close over rehab and the early morning starts so you get to know each other well."

Schoenmakers is confident he will return to form once back in the Hawthorn side. He expects to resume his place in the backline, although he has yet to play in the same side as both Brian Lake and Josh Gibson, so there remains the possibility that he could swing forward.

Given that the Hawthorn backline has fared superbly in his absence, a move to the forward line could be the way forward. His strength, height, skill and excellent disposal could make him the logical long-term replacement for the departed Lance Franklin.

"I did play there as a junior, so hopefully it could happen," he said. 

"But as a backman I have the whole game in front of me and its the position I know the most, so it will be good for me to go in with that mindset.

"If it is the backline, hopefully we can all work together pretty well. It will be a tall group, but the way 'Gibbo' and 'Lakey' play we will all complement each other and maybe free other people up to play their natural game and to run and carry the ball," he said.