I was asked a number of times last week how it felt lining up against my old side, Hawthorn. I said each time, and I believed it, that it would be just another game, and I didn’t feel any extra pressure or anxiety. In the days leading up to the game I just wanted to make sure I was as physically well prepared as I could be.

But the day before the game, it dawned on me that it was a pretty significant occasion for me. I knew I might be playing on Brad Sewell or Jordan Lewis and I was a bit nervous, having trained with them and having been in their shadow, so to speak, at Hawthorn. It hit me close to the game, and I became pretty anxious to get out there and get a touch early on.

In the first minute I tackled Sewell and got him holding the ball, which made me pretty happy! And then once I got my first kick it was really just like any other game.

There were a few comments from my old team-mates, especially my good friend Campbell Brown, who let me know when he was bearing down on me in a marking contest that he was coming to get me!

I also recall another moment when I was on the bench and went for a run along the boundary line. I heard Hawthorn supporters yelling out in support, Well done Josh, so that was a pretty good feeling. Then in the last quarter I ran into Wayde Skipper’s knee, and that wasn’t a good feeling. It certainly gave my mum a scare and she was happy to see me in the rooms after the game, and know I was ok.

It was annoying because it meant I couldn’t do anything in the last 10 minutes to help us win the game, so that was really frustrating. I’ve recovered well from that knock and will be fine to play this week.

So I’ve got it out of the way, I’ve played my former team for the first time and hopefully won’t have to talk about it too much next time.

But I really want to beat them, and we get another chance later in the year. I’d love to get a win against them!