A wretched run with injury has given Hawthorn midfielder Jaeger O’Meara the kind of perspective and appreciation of the game that would normally only be associated with players well into their 30s and on the verge of retirement.

Playing his first full year since 2014, after a chronic knee injury restricted him to just six between 2015 and 2017, the 24-year-old cherishes every chance he gets to run out onto the park with his teammates and play senior footy.

O'Meara is dreaming of a finals appearance. Credit:AAP

“That’s why I’m enjoying my footy, I’ve got perspective now,” he said.

“Obviously I haven’t played a lot of footy over the last three or so years ... with the time out sitting in the stands, it can get pretty frustrating and you get down on yourself quite a bit but I’m just really happy to be playing every week and hopefully we can win a few more games and I can play finals footy.”