IT WASN'T that long ago that Hawthorn's finals wildcard Ryan Schoenmakers feared his season might be over.

Grounded by what coach Alastair Clarkson termed a "grumbly" groin, the 25-year-old was struggling to overcome inflammation after his pelvis was "squashed" in a tackle in the round one loss to the Cats.

So when his mid-season comeback was aborted after just one VFL game, and as the pain lingered, the premiership-winning Hawk started to doubt if he would play again this year.

"We were getting to that point where it was like, 'What do we do?'" Schoenmakers told AFL.com.au.

"That was probably the time when we were like 'Righto, let's just rest for a couple of weeks now and really get on top of it and then see how we're tracking'.

"Luckily, everything went well from that point onwards. It started progressing pretty smoothly."

Setting himself a new goal - a round 23 return against Collingwood - Schoenmakers knew there wasn't much margin for error. 

But after getting through two matches for Box Hill, he stepped up in time to face the Pies and emerged unscathed, despite blowing hard late in the thrilling one-point win.

Now, on the eve of a blockbuster qualifying final against the Cats, the 195cm forward believes he can inject some extra energy into the Hawks.

"I feel mentally a lot fresher than I did the last couple of years," Schoenmakers said.

"Footy's a long season and you go into finals and you've been battling hard all year.

"This year I've been able to sit back and I feel like it's almost the start of the season for me.

"I'm really confident in my body now. I've gone through three games and had no pain." 

Dealing with the fickle timing of injuries is nothing new for Schoenmakers, who has experienced both the ups and the downs during his career. 

A ruptured ACL in 2013 ruined his shot at redemption after Grand Final heartbreak the previous season, but then last year everything changed on the twist of Jack Gunston's ankle in a horror qualifying final loss to West Coast. 

Schoenmakers grabbed the opportunity, held his spot for three finals and lived his dream in the Grand Final belting of the Eagles. 

This year, with spearhead Jarryd Roughead unfortunately being forced onto the sidelines, it appeared to be the season when Schoenmakers would seize his chance to nail down a spot. 

It hasn't worked out that way, but in the space of 12 months he's gone from trying to force his way into a finals team to having Hawks fans wanting him back by September. 

"It fills you with confidence when the boys want you in the team and want you playing because it makes the side better, it's a great feeling," he said.

"So I suppose it does make you run a bit better and play a bit better – you feel like that responsibility's on you, which is good." 

While it will be overshadowed by the occasion, Friday night's match will be Schoenmakers' 100th game in brown and gold – a significant and long-awaited achievement seven years after his debut.

It will be a proud moment for the South Australian, who resisted lures to go home last season and signed a two-year deal with the Hawks.

"It's been a goal for a while now (to play 100 games), and I obviously had a bit of a setback again this year with some time on the sidelines but it's going to be pretty special," he said. 

"That's footy, you get those roadblocks and being able to overcome them I suppose shows a bit of resilience and character, so I've been able to build that here. 

"It's great that I'll be able to play with some of the guys I came through the ('08) draft with - Liam Shiels and Luke Breust."

It's a twist of fate that Schoenmakers will reach the landmark against Geelong, the team he made his debut against in round one, 2009 – the beginning of the fabled 'Kennett Curse' – and is yet to beat in 10 attempts.

Eight of those losses have been by single-figure margins, but there's rarely been a better time to break that duck, and Schoenmakers is confident Hawthorn is building towards a tilt at a record-equalling four-straight flag.

"With us, we probably haven't been in great form the last month or two," he said.

"But we know if we play our best footy and bring it all together, it's going to be pretty hard to beat."