EVEN when he was climbing up mountains in freezing Arizona conditions late last year, Martin Clarke had no regrets about his attempt to restart his AFL career.

The 24-year-old Irishman returned to Collingwood via last year's October trade period after discussions with coach Nathan Buckley saw him decide to give the game another go.

Even though he's come back to a faster game with more physical demands than it held two years ago - and with no guarantees of starting the year in the seniors - Clarke has never once doubted his decision.

"[Pre-season] was amazing. Some of the jobs I've been doing over the past two years … certainly, you didn't want to get out of bed for them," Clarke told collingwoodfc.com.au.

"To get up and play football and go running and hiking up mountains, it was an absolute pleasure. It certainly wasn't hard."

The fact that Clarke is two years older than when he last played in 2009 also helps.

After the Pies' 22-point opening-round loss to Hawthorn, Clarke said was "extremely motivated" to make things work this time, despite noticing the game was one of the fastest he'd ever played in. 

"I know this is where I want to be, and this is where you have to earn the right from week to week," he said.

"For now, life in Australia is where I want to be and I want to give my all to the Collingwood Football Club. I've no second thoughts at all.

"You could say I've matured a bit as well. I think as a 24-year-old, you have to be a bit more mature and settled.

"Certainly I know the importance of giving my all this time, and it's not as big an adventure now because I know the place pretty well and what it takes."

Buckley said in the pre-season he was concerned about how the increase of pressure on the ball across half-back would affect Clarke's ability to readapt to the game.

The Irishman, who has played across half-back and on the wing over the pre-season and against the Hawks, feels he's prepared for the change.

"It's always been a pretty stressful position, especially against the very good teams," he said.

"You have to be very wary of the ball coming in because there are so many good players now who play at half-forward.

"I suppose it hasn't changed too much in that respect."

Clarke had 13 touches against the Hawks and laid four tackles, and while he made some mistakes, wasn't the worst performer for the Pies.

His fitness, kept intact by two seasons of playing Gaelic football for County Down after he decided to return home to Ireland after the 2009 season, didn't appear to be an issue, although he admitted to being exhausted after the season-opener.

What interested him the most was the speed of the game.

"We've been training all pre-season now so I went out there and knew what to expect," he said.

"But that was one of the fastest games I've ever played in, and high-scoring as well.

"I'm not sure if that was against the norm of what's been going on, but it certainly one of the most open games I've played in."

One-on-one sessions with Collingwood's group of coaches over the pre-season helped Clarke immensely, as did the support of Buckley.

Clarke said he respected Buckley's love of the club and "man-management skills", adding that he felt indebted to the Pies for the dedication they had shown to getting him back to AFL standard. 

"The club has been a great support as always, and showed great faith to take me back here," he said.

"With the pre-season, it's just been a real education and the time I've got one-on-one one with various coaches has just been second-to-none.

"I don't think any other clubs would have the resources to do that, it so I'm very grateful. I just have to give my all back to the club because they've given me so much."

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.