HE’S BEEN in full training since Christmas and played in two intra-club games, but running out in a Saints uniform against another club was a major hurdle for Lenny Hayes to overcome in his return from a knee injury.
Hayes gathered five touches in St Kilda’s loss to the Sydney Swans in match one of the NAB Cup on Friday night, and sat out the next game against Geelong.
Save for one handy clearance after a couple of baulks, Hayes had a relatively quiet night in his first game back, but the 32-year-old said just playing again was a major goal.
"It was probably a number of things you've got to tick off when you come back from an injury like that, and the first game when you play an opposition is probably one of those," Hayes said.
"I see it as a mini-milestone. I've certainly got a lot of areas to improve on as the team does, but it is just another step in the process."
Coming back from 'the big knee' is no new experience for Hayes, who previously ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in 2006.
He said his experience in returning from a serious setback has been useful.
"I think I've had an extra couple of months because I did it in about round nine last time, so I just feel I've been a bit better prepared. Coming into this game, I've had two-and-a-half intra-club games, and just that extra time has helped," he said.
"Having gone through it, you don't stress out over any little thing that gets sore. I've been through a lot of the stuff before … the rehab process, a lot of the physio, and from that sense it has helped a little bit."
Hayes never expected to be at his absolute best in his first game back, but said he expected to gradually improve.
"The more games you play, the better you get, having missed so much footy. Just getting that power back into the leg, it is always going to take a bit of time," he said.
"I couldn't have asked for much more tonight, it was a good blow-out. I enjoyed hitting a few bodies and getting hit myself."
Luke Holmesby covers St Kilda news for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter - @AFL_Luke
