For Adelaide forward Callum Ah Chee, the path back from a hamstring injury has been gruelling and at times, mentally challenging.

Ah Chee has been sidelined since Round Two with a high-grade hamstring injury, sustained during the final quarter of the Crows’ clash against the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval.

Speaking to AFC Media this week, the two-time premiership Lion has, however, revealed he ticked off a significant milestone in his rehabilitation program last week.

He said last weekend’s session marked a shift into the most demanding phase of his rehab, with the focus now on replicating the unpredictability and intensity of match play.

“My last session last Saturday was sort of a ‘graduation session’ for me, I did about 12kms, trying to get as much game-like football in, where it’s unpredictable and really testing out the hamstring,” Ah Chee said.

“It has been a little difficult, I think the first few weeks were probably the toughest because you can’t really do much.

“You feel a bit disconnected being in rehab, you tip your hat off to blokes who are in rehab for really long stints, it’s not the greatest place to be when you’d rather be playing footy, so I’m looking forward to that.

“The past three weeks have been better because I’ve been able to do a lot more - running and kicking and doing more game-like stuff.”

Ah Chee’s injury came late in the game against the Bulldogs, after a lunging spoil on Bailey Williams.

As he hit the ground, Ah Chee said he felt his hamstring ‘go’ and knew he had done significant damage.

“I felt like I had just started to get going in that last quarter, I had a couple of good moments, but then did my hammy,” Ah Chee said.

“I hit the ground and felt it (the hamstring) go straight away. I tried to get back up and walk, but couldn’t really walk, so I knew it was a pretty bad one.

“It was a bit of disappointment and frustration because I felt like I hadn’t had a consistent run at it since I arrived at the Club and probably hadn’t been able to showcase what I had come here to do.

“But I’m coming out of it now, which is good, and I am excited to get back to playing footy because it’s been a bit of a long stint in rehab.”

That game against the Bulldogs was also Ah Chee’s first home match at Adelaide Oval in Crows colours, after arriving at the Club during the 2025 Telstra Pre-Season Draft.

And it’s a moment - despite the late injury - that he won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

“It was pure excitement, I watched and supported the Crows growing up and also played against them, so it was nice to be on the other side of it,” Ah Chee said.

“I felt at home, the atmosphere was amazing, and to hear the crowd cheering for us, the noise is pretty unreal.

“I am really excited to get back out there and get that opportunity again.”

Despite the ups and downs of being in rehab, Ah Chee said his teammates and the Club as a whole had done everything to help keep him positive and help him through.

“The boys have all been awesome, we’ve had different boys in and out of the rehab group with me, which isn’t a great thing, but it is good to have company,” Ah Chee said.

“The coaching staff have also been awesome. Murray Davis has been great for me, obviously I was at Brisbane with him.

“All the boys have been really good with trying to keep me connected with the group, which is nice.”

Ah Chee says his focus now is on continuing to build towards a return to the AFL team, and is keen to get on the field with his teammates again.

“I am looking forward to going out and playing footy, it’s what I love to do - go out and have a kick and hopefully contribute,” Ah Chee said.

“Just being back out with the boys and kicking the footy, that’s what I am looking forward to the most.

“Ultimately, I don’t want to be back in rehab, so for me it’s just building confidence to get my body right and play some footy.”