Alex Woodward has recently penned a letter that was sent to AFL clubs outlining what he is prepared to do if he is given a second chance at a career in the elite competition.
The 23-year-old midfielder endured a tough five years at Hawthorn undergoing three knee reconstructions in four seasons and playing only two senior games for the club.
Following an amicable exit meeting with Alastair Clarkson he is now a free agent after he was delisted by the Hawks.
“So my management and I thought it was a good idea to write a bit about myself and the situation I’m in and how keen I am to pursue the AFL pathway,” said Woodward on SEN radio.
“I’m not entirely sure who my management sent it out to but hopefully he has sent it out to all clubs so they can recognise my passion for the game.
“I suppose I was selling myself in a sense that my body is fit now, that I’m only 23 and hopefully that’s an appealing view for clubs.
“My position at the moment is I’ve obviously been delisted by the Hawks and I guess prove myself that I’m worth a second chance.
“So this two months is going to be a bit of a limbo period but I’m just keeping myself busy and hopefully I’ll get that second chance.”
Woodward has kept in contact with a number of other players in the league who have endured multiple knee injuries, including Geelong player Daniel Menzel.
“Yeah we sort of do reach out to each other a little bit,” he said.
“Obviously we’ve got similarities and we can compare out injuries fairly easily – it’s just good to have comfort in that sense and you’re not the only one in that situation.
“So we were able to comfort each other and have a good chat about it, Dan Menzel in particular and I had a chat to Clay Smith as well.
“To see those guys going so well in the AFL system I couldn’t be happier for them.”