Nearly four months after suffering a potentially career-ending spleen injury, Kyle Hartigan says he’s just happy to be back training alongside his teammates.

The 23-year-old was placed in Intensive Care following a brutal collision with John Butcher and Ben Rutten while going back with the flight in the Round 14 SANFL Showdown.

Hartigan has since made a full recovery, but the defender said there were times of uncertainty as he was rushed into an ambulance from Alberton Oval.

“At the time I didn’t realise how bad the injury was,” Hartigan said.

“The doctors kind of kept it from me so I didn’t go into shock, but once I realised the extent of the injury I was a bit surprised.

“But it didn’t really hit me that I was ever going to lose my life or not play footy again.”

Hartigan not only suffered a severely lacerated spleen which threatened more than just his playing career, but he also sustained a fractured rib and sprained AC joint in the incident.

But Hartigan said such collisions were “part of footy” and that he would still do the same thing given his time again.

“I’ve done it thousands of times before and that’s just the way I play my game.

“You go back sometimes and you’re fine, and sometimes you get hurt.

“It’s just luck of the draw I guess.

Once in the clear, Hartigan made the most of his time on the sidelines in the second half of the 2014 season. He often sat in with the coaches on match day and sought out mentor Ben Rutten on ways to improve his own game.

The former rookie, who will wear No.15 next year, then went to work during the offseason to ensure he would be in good shape for day one of Adelaide’s pre-season campaign.

“It was a bit different for me coming off the injury,” he said.

“For probably two months you’re not going anything, and that was pretty tough for me. Going from training every day and watching the boys play was really tough as well.

“I knew I had to do a little bit of work to catch up to the other boys. I think I’ve done that, so hopefully I can make the most of my pre-season and be right to go by the opening game.”

Phil Walsh took the reigns at West Lakes for the first time after returning home from a leadership conference in Europe.

As Adelaide sweltered in 34-degree heat, an animated Walsh barked out the orders during his maiden session.

Hartigan said the players already knew there would be a long summer ahead.

“It’ll be probably one of the toughest pre-seasons I’ve ever done,” Hartigan said.

“Whatever you’re doing you’ve just got to set the right example and strive to be the greatest person and player that you can be.

“As a team, we want to do that together and help each other through.

“And that comes with hard work.”