WHEN Chris Dawes caught his leg under afellow Sandringham Dragon and felt his anterior cruciate ligament snap latelast season, he thought his chances of being recruited by an AFL club were allbut over.

Dawes underwent a knee reconstruction followingthe collision with his teammate and was forced to contemplate a year out of thegame as he recovered from the serious injury.

The impressive 19-year-old was stillinvited to the league's draft camp, but attended with no expectations as he wasaware of the gamble any potential suitor would need to take on him and hiswonky knee.

"I was a risk, because they didn'tknow how well the knee was going to go, and I always thought I'd be lucky if Igot drafted," Dawes told collingwoodfc.com.au.

"I feel pretty lucky getting toCollingwood. Before I did the knee and before I went to draft camp, I wasn'tsure if I'd get drafted.

"Hurting my knee worried me, and thenews I'd require a reco and would have a year out, but once I got to the camp,enough clubs spoke to me that I thought I was a chance and that I might getpicked later in the draft or rookie listed."

The first few months of a recruit's life atan elite sporting club are meant to be full of excitement and anticipation, butfor Dawes, his introduction to AFL football provided anything but.

"I got to the club a month into myrecovery, and it was difficult at first getting to a new club where I didn'treally know anyone, and you can't make an impression because you can't play ortrain," he said.

"I found rehab really lonely, althoughfor the first three months I was working with Alan Didak, because he had a kneereconstruction as well, but now I've settled in and it's become more routine.

"I'm still about a month off playing,which is frustrating because I'm close to full training now. It's beendifficult, because once we get into the season, the training load lightens forthose who are playing, but as they've started doing just enough to get themthrough each week, I've been starting my pre-season.

"I've been working closely with therehab coordinator, and so he is putting me through my paces, which I findpretty tough at times."

Despite the best efforts of the playinggroup and coaching staff, Dawes said he felt "alienated" as he wentabout rebuilding his fitness as the knee got stronger.

"They'd all go out and do theirtraining together, go for a run and get the footies out for a few hours, thenthey'd come inside and do weights together, and I was on a separate timetableto them," he said.

"I was unsure of what to do most ofthe time, and I found that pretty difficult. The senior players knew that I wasnew to the club, and a lot of them had been through serious injuries, so theywere good with keeping me involved and keeping me motivated.

"They'd come over and give me a pat onthe back, but it didn't really compensate for not being able to train withthem. One of the first things you want to do when you get to a club is try andwin the respect of the players, and it was difficult because I haven't beenable to prove that much."

Dawes "isn't quite fully trainingyet" and believes his running needs further work before he can seriouslyconsider playing again. However, he thinks he'll be available for selection insix to eight weeks.

With the club blooding six first-gamersthis season alone, Dawes is encouraged by Mick Malthouse's inclination to givethe young Magpies every opportunity to prove themselves at senior level.

"Our group of first year players havebecome pretty close, so as frustrating as it is, it's also awesome to see someof these guys get their opportunity," he said.

"That's been great, but it isfrustrating. It's encouraging to see, and the club recruited pretty well in myview, so there are a lot of blokes pushing for senior selection.

"It's reassuring that there is achance for me."