HAWTHORN midfielder Jaeger O'Meara is content to play out the season in the VFL, saying he is "thrilled" just to be playing again after more knee problems.

The former Sun played his first match in more than three months on Saturday, amassing 29 disposals and kicking three goals in only three quarters for the Hawks' VFL affiliate Box Hill.

"It was really good – I really enjoyed it," O'Meara told Hawthorn's website.

"I was itching to go when I found out during the week I was playing, so, yeah, it was really good just to have the first hit-out … it was just really fun to be out there playing footy again and doing what I love to do.

"I played the three quarters and tick that box and then will look to increase my game time coming this week."

O'Meara, 23, was unsighted at AFL level in his last two seasons at Gold Coast because of patella tendon injuries, before crossing to Hawthorn in a much-discussed move in the 2016 NAB AFL Trade Period.

A positive start to the 2013 NAB AFL Rising Star's Hawks career was stalled when bone bruising surfaced in his right knee, which was initially diagnosed as unrelated to his past issues.

O'Meara returned in round six after a fortnight out, but had not played again until the weekend. Hawthorn's medical staff is confident it has figured out the injury after further scans, revealing it is related to his previous problems.

Box Hill ultimately lost the match by six points to Essendon, with O'Meara begrudgingly sitting out the fourth term.

"It was always a plan prior to the game to play just the three quarters," he said.

"But I asked the question at three-quarter time if I could keep playing, because I felt bad with (Kieran) 'Chopper' Lovell and one of the VFL boys going down with an injury. I wanted to play the last quarter, but I knew it was going to be a no and it was a no, so that's all good."

The most likely scenario is O'Meara spends the rest of the year with Box Hill, which will play in the VFL finals. He would be ineligible for the VFL post-season if he played in one of the Hawks' last two AFL matches and they missed the finals.

"I'm not too sure whether (I will) continue to play at VFL level or whether I go up to the senior side," he said.

"I'll just leave that up to the conditioning staff and coaching staff and see what happens, but I'm just thrilled to be back playing footy."