WATCH the collision which has kept Pittard out since Round 17 above on PTV. Can't view the video? Watch on YouTube
You would need it if you’d suffered the set backs he’s had.
His debut at national level was postponed after he injured his hamstring at the end of the 2010 pre-season.
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He eventually debuted against Collingwood in the opening round of the 2011 season having been selected with pick 16 in the 2009 national draft.
In just his fourth game he was nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star award after a standout performance in Showdown 30.
Things went downhill after round fourteen that year however, with two hamstring injuries consigning him to just one match from the remaining ten rounds.
It was as if he’d run over several black cats such was the bad luck that seemed to fall his way.
Playing for Sturt in the opening round of the 2012 SANFL season, he injured another hamstring.
The impediment multiple injuries had on his return to AFL was by no means easy. Frustrated by his inability to get on-track with the playing group during pre-season, his much-anticipated eventual return ended in disaster when a collision with teammate Chad Wingard resulted in significant rib and lung injuries.
And his comeback through the SANFL in Round 20 saw him injure his adductors.
So far, football at the nation’s premier level has been a tough task for this premium talent.
“In my first year I didn’t get a game but in my second year I got a lot of support from the coaches and players and managed to string a few games together,” Pittard told PortAdelaideFC.com.au of his career so far.
“Matty [Primus] was the coach who gave me my opportunity and I’m thankful to him and the club for helping me achieve that.
“Now we’ll have a new coach coming in and I’ll have to start again from scratch and impress him.”
His re-signing by the club demonstrates how highly he is rated at Alberton and he is building towards a return in 2013.
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“By the end of pre-season I want to head into a strong season next year and impress the new coach or coaches that come in,” said Pittard.
“I need to put my hand up for selection.”
“We’ve got an exciting young list so I just want to be a part of that heading into Adelaide Oval which will be pretty exciting for the next two years at least.”
Despite his injuries, Pittard has remained focussed on the development of the club around him throughout his recovery.
But like many injured players, he is raring to put his own career back on track.
“It’s the last game this weekend and I’m just going to enjoy watching the boys - hopefully we can get a win to finish off the year,” he said.
“I’ll hang around for a few days before the 'Best and Fairest' next week before I shoot off back to Victoria for a couple of weeks holidays.”
“We come back at the end of October and head off to a training camp in Milan and the [exhibition] game in London.
“I’m going to train and come back fit and ready for a big pre-season.
“I’m really excited about re-signing, we’ve got a really good club here and a good group of mates here and I think we’ve got an exciting future ahead.”
