JASPER Pittard knows frustration.

Hamstring injuries have so far wreaked havoc on his career; three of them restricting Port's third pick of the 2009 NAB AFL Draft to just 13 games.

The first was a setback he encountered in early 2010, having recently completed his first AFL pre-season. But after cementing his position in the Power's side last year and winning the round four nomination for the NAB AFL Rising Star, Pittard re-injured the same hamstring against North Melbourne in round 14.

He returned in round 20, only for it fail him once again.

It's the sort of luck that would have most people asking "why me?"

Not Pittard. Throughout two incredibly tough seasons, the 20-year-old has shown maturity usually reserved for veteran players, by remaining focused not on himself, but on the Port Adelaide Football Club.

"Look, it was frustrating, but the performance by the team was the frustrating thing," Pittard said.

"I just really wanted to contribute to the team and get them back on track.

"It's a bit hard to do that from the rehab group."

Pittard's view on his injuries verges on philosophical. He said he's learned from every player at Port Adelaide, both injured and those like Kane Cornes, who managed to play 174 consecutive games before being dropped last season.

"Injuries are a part of the game and that's why the best players and the most consistent players manage their bodies so well," he said.

"It's about finding a way, finding a balance.

"I'm in my third year now, so hopefully with the help of the fitness guys I'll find that balance."

The signs in 2012 suggest he's close to finding it. Despite starting this summer behind the eight-ball, he said he's made significant progress since re-joining full training a few months ago.

"It's been frustrating because the whole group has just been smashing it every week and I wasn't able to be out there," Pittard said.

"I want to keep up with the rest of the group and if I want to play half-back and through the midfield, I've got to keep up with guys like Brad Ebert, Steven Salopek and Trav Boak.

"They set the standard and I'm slowly getting back to it. I'm still a fair way off but I'll just keep putting my head down."

Pittard's intense motivation comes from a number of places.

He has no desire to find himself back at Sturt, where he spent the year after a hamstring injury in 2010. And he grew very tired of losing once the buzz of playing AFL football wore off.

"Once you play AFL you don't really want to play at the next level down," he said.

"But I think the fact that as a team we've got a really good opportunity to make some real progress is a driving force.

"I want to be a part of that and play my role, whatever that is."

He believes that role will be running from defence and, hopefully, out on a wing. But his weight has been an issue from the day he was drafted. Listed then at 70kg, Pittard has packed on a lot of bulk in his two AFL seasons and will enter this season listed at 80kg.

"Putting too much weight on at once can be pretty dangerous so my role for the team is to use my running ability; I don't want to be slowing that down," he said.

"At my peak I'm hoping I can probably be a bit heavier, mid-80s to 90s, but at this stage it's just about gradually building up and making sure I don't break down."

Facing Adelaide and Carlton in the first round of the NAB Cup next Sunday at AAMI Stadium, Pittard doesn't have long to wait before his season's first opportunity to stake a claim arrives.

"I feel like I'm making some real progress both individually and with my role in the team," he said.

"I'm not putting too many expectations on myself at this stage. Obviously I'd like to play round one, but it's about keeping my body right and hopefully getting an opportunity in the NAB Cup."


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