For the past three years, James Aish has studied part-time at Deakin University for a bachelor of psychological science.

This learning can be useful for an AFL player, particularly as they play 'the inner game', while dealing with the vagaries of life as a professional sportsperson, and while interacting with the wide variety of personality types that football clubs typically attract.

The Collingwood defender is an interesting psychological case study himself.

Now in his sixth AFL season, the first two of which were spent in Brisbane, Aish has always tried to exude a positive attitude.

But it hasn't always been easy.

Due to injury and form issues the No.7 pick from the 2013 NAB AFL Draft has tallied just 78 games, 21 of them coming in a rush in his debut season with the then-lowly Lions.

At a time when the South Australian is more secure than ever in the Magpie line-up, we asked him to describe his stop-start AFL career to date. His answer was, in part, a psychological self-assessment.

"It's been a good journey but it hasn't gone exactly to plan like you'd expect it would for a top draft pick," Aish, 23, told AFL.com.au.

"Through various challenges I've learnt heaps and developed a lot as a person and as a player.

"There's been injuries at annoying times, there's been some inconsistency and poor form which has led to being dropped at times, which is always frustrating, and amongst all that there have been patches of good play I've been happy with.

"It's a continual process and I'm just trying to stay in the moment and give it my best and see where it goes.

"I'm feeling more comfortable in the team but I need to keep improving because there's lots to work on. It's time to assert myself a bit more."

Aish has played 10 of 13 games this season, missing three with a heavy bout of concussion after copping a knee to the back of the head in a marking contest in the round five win over his former club Brisbane at the Gabba.

Despite the lengthy lay-off, the lean runner was selected at AFL level as soon as he was passed fit, and he's been solid in his five appearances since. Thankfully, he hasn't suffered any further ill-effects from the knock.

Aish also hasn't endured any further issues with his left shoulder, which underwent a reconstruction last off-season. (His right one had been reconstructed previously.)

However, he's still managing a posterior cruciate ligament issue in his left knee that threatened his 2018 season.

"It's a continual thing, to be honest. You have to keep on top of it and keep checking up on it. It has to be managed pretty well. If you drop off it for a couple of weeks it'll flare up a little bit," Aish said on the eve of the second-placed Magpies' clash with struggling North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

"Most players have niggles to work on, so I can't complain. It doesn't impact me too much. It's more about modifying things in the gym to avoid pain."

The initial injury led to a move from a wing to defence. In Aish's 14-week absence Chris Mayne established himself as a wingman, but injuries had left a hole for Aish to fill in unfamiliar territory at half-back, where he played the last seven games, including four finals. 

In the five-point loss to West Coast in the Grand Final, Aish had one of his quietest games in which he collected just seven touches, but he laid five tackles and kept his opponent Daniel Venables to a game-low four possessions, which included only one kick.

Try as he might, Aish couldn't block out the heartbreaking defeat.

"I was pretty devastated. I was still thinking about it six or eight weeks later. As I started to get back into the swing of my training it almost started to hurt more," he revealed.

"But it's important to acknowledge it was a pretty cool season to be part of. We had a great year despite all the adversity."

Tied to the Pies until the end of 2020 after signing a two-year contract extension during a make-or-break 2018 season, Aish is happy and comfortable in Melbourne.

Though reasonably settled in the Collingwood side, Aish is determined to appease his coaches by adding more of an attacking edge to his game.

"The last two years when I've been fit I've been playing (at AFL level), so I'm confident that I have the trust of the coaches," he said.

"Generally my defensive stuff is pretty good so they want me to get the ball in my hands a bit more and work on my offence, take on the game more, back myself to make the right decision and become more damaging.

"I'm keen to take that step and continue my growth."