THE RETURN of boom Hawthorn recruit Jaeger O'Meara to AFL football appears closer after he took part in an intraclub match at the Ricoh Centre on Wednesday.

And in more good news for the Hawks, new skipper Jarryd Roughead also played, raising hopes he now has enough conditioning to take part in the JLT Community Series.

O'Meara hasn't played at AFL level for two years because of major injuries to his patella tendon while playing for Gold Coast, and the complications that followed. He joined the Hawks during last October's trade period.

The Hawks have been ultra-cautious in both their treatment of O'Meara and their public utterances about him. Previous suggestions were of a round four debut on Easter Monday against Geelong, but if he pulls up well from Wednesday's hit-out then a round one debut in the MCG blockbuster against Essendon on March 25 might come into calculations.

Roughead, who didn't play at all last year because of a PCL injury and then a re-emergence of melanoma, said he hoped to be available to play in the pre-season and his appearance on Wednesday suggests he will play at some stage in the next few weeks.

The Hawks appear to have a pretty healthy list, with most of their listed players appearing to take part in the game, during which several senior players changed teams in the middle. Midfielder Brendan Whitecross is one who did not play and instead ran laps.

Hawthorn heads to Tasmania for its community camp next week and while there will play its JLT Community Series opener against Geelong on February 17 against Geelong at UTAS Stadium.

They also play North Melbourne in a sold-out clash at Arden Street on February 26 and Port Adelaide at Noarlunga on March 12.