THERE'S not many footballers who have had to work harder for the right to play another AFL match than Fremantle's Andrew Browne.

The dogged midfielder makes a welcome return this week to take on the Cats at Skilled Stadium after overcoming chronic hamstring injuries.

Browne might only be 24 and have 22 AFL games to his name, but that hardly tells the story of what he's been through.

He has been on Fremantle's list since 2001 and the club has always valued his hardness and ball winning ability, but constant injury has limited his availability.

After not playing a match in 2005 or 2006, and just four last year, Browne has strung together five terrific WAFL games with Claremont this season.

This run included a best-on-ground 31-possession, two-goal performance in last Saturday's win over South Fremantle to earn his first AFL selection since round 22 last year.

He now wants to start repaying the club for the faith it showed in him by competing well against the Geelong midfield at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.

"It has been a frustrating couple of years, so I'm excited I've got an opportunity this weekend and I can't wait," Browne said.

"I've set myself the goal of staying in the side the rest of the year, so hopefully I can, and that it helps repay the faith they've shown in me.

"There are not too many AFL players that get kept on a list after so many long-term injuries, so I'm forever thankful for that and I feel a responsibility to repay that faith over the last seven or eight games."

Not only does Browne want to repay the club, but also retired champion Peter Bell for nominating him as one of his successors.

"He (Bell) has been an inspirational player, he was there when I first came to the club seven years ago and is someone that I've tried to follow as he does everything so professionally," he said.

"For me to get a game as a result of his retirement means I feel the responsibility to put in the same sort of effort and performance that he did throughout his career, so hopefully I can do him proud."

During long stints in rehabilitation, Browne and utility Luke Webster have formed quite a bond, and would love nothing more than to finish the AFL season strongly together for Fremantle.

One positive of the tough times for Browne is how much he has matured in the time away from football and how that has impacted his leadership qualities.

"We have spent a lot of time in rehab together and have always talked about getting back and playing some good footy together, so hopefully that happens in the next few weeks," he said.

"I certainly feel like I have more experience than 22 games, I feel like I'm a veteran now around the place. I definitely don’t feel like I'm coming in as a young player.

"I can offer some leadership and I have a responsibility to lead as much as I can. I've learned a lot going through my hard times over seven years and that should keep me in good stead."

Browne has also played in two losing grand finals (2004, 07) with Claremont against Subiaco, but now feels like a leader at a young Tigers side whose season has mirrored that of Fremantle's.

"Both sides have played good footy without getting the wins on the board, so there's positive signs even though both are near the bottom of the ladder," he said.

"Claremont has a very young side at the moment after a lot of departures at the end of last year, so I'm definitely one of the leaders down there and I've grown in that role.

"You can't help but be in awe of guys like (Jaxon) Crabb and AJ (Anthony Jones), but it doesn’t take long to realise that they were once in your position and the sooner you learn to become a leader in your own right the better off you are."