EVEN during his most frustrating moments playing in the VFL this season, Brendan Whitecross never doubted he would pull on a Hawthorn jumper again.

And with his dream shot at a premiership medallion materialising before his eyes, the loyal Hawk is determined to seize his chance to cement a senior spot.

After 432 days out of Hawthorn's side, Whitecross made a timely return last round, receiving the call-up for the gripping five-point triumph over the Swans at the SCG.

The hardened 26-year-old relished the intensity of the red-hot contest like he had never been gone, picking up 15 touches and laying five tackles in just his fifth game in three seasons.

"It was worth the wait," Whitecross told AFL.com.au.

"It's been a hard road to try and earn my spot, but I got back there and now it's just a matter of holding my position."

Whitecross had been named in Box Hill's best five times in 11 games before Alastair Clarkson told him last Monday his opportunity had finally arrived, and that it was "up to him" to hold the spot opened up by wingman Billy Hartung's omission.

"At times it was a little bit frustrating because I'd been playing some pretty good footy at VFL level and it wasn't anything I'd done wrong that was going against me at selection," Whitecross said.

"It was just down to the make-up of the team, guys that were getting injured or out of form weren't in the positions I was going to come in and fill.

"So I really had to wait for my opportunity to come through that half-forward/wing position.

"Although it was tough, playing consistent footy for a number of weeks at VFL level has really helped my transition back into the game on the weekend.

"(I have) a big difference in the confidence in my body this year, opposed to last year.

"Although it was a long time between drinks, I was certainly ready for the game and ready to play AFL footy again on the weekend."

Whitecross' hard-luck story is a well-worn tale.

The popular Hawk first ruptured his ACL in the 2012 qualifying final, before suffering heartbreak again a year later in the preliminary final.

He didn't make it back for the 2014 season and, after an uplifting comeback early last year, couldn’t force his way into contention for finals and missed out on Hawthorn's third-straight flag.

While his teammates prepared for last year's Grand Final, Whitecross was nursing a reconstructed shoulder and wondering whether his football future lay somewhere other than Waverley.

"I went and spoke to a few clubs," he said. "But at the end of the day I just knew that my heart and my head was still here.

"As hard as it would've been to crack back into the side, I knew that once I could it would be better for my footy.

"It showed the start of the season, it's been tough playing VFL footy, consistently perform and give myself the best chance to play AFL footy.

"But I've been rewarded on the weekend coming back into the side with my first game. I certainly think it was the right choice for my footy."

It would be natural for Whitecross to wonder 'What If?' from the past three seasons, but the far more appealing prospect is to look ahead.

With six rounds to go before finals, he might have timed his run perfectly as the top-of-the-ladder Hawks position themselves beautifully for a tilt at a historic fourth-straight premiership.

"I guess every player thinks about finals coming into the back end of the season," Whitecross said.

"But for me it was just about working really hard to get back into the side.

"That was the first step and the next step for me is just being able to cement that position and give myself every chance to play consecutive games.

"If it happens to lead into finals, that's great, but if not it's just about pushing and hopefully getting back to playing finals footy again."