BOOM recruit Jaeger O’Meara says he ecstatic to resume his AFL career at Hawthorn, after a deal was struck between the Hawks and Gold Coast Suns just minutes before the trade period deadline yesterday.

Speaking to the media for the first time as a Hawthorn player, O’Meara said he was getting increasingly nervous as the end of the trade period loomed.

“My manager text me 30 minutes before it got done and said it was looking good,” he said.

“I called him about 17 times trying to get an idea of what was happening and I was ecstatic when it officially got done.”

After suffering a serious knee injury which has kept him out of AFL football for two years, O’Meara said the Hawthorn medical staff were a big reason behind him choosing Waverley as his preferred destination.

“They played quite a big part - speaking to Hawthorn’s medical department that was obviously as big factor because of my injury,” he said.

“They’ve had some success with (treating) current players and past players so that was a factor.”

O’Meara said he harboured no concerns about his knee, which limited him to just three NEAFL games towards the end of the 2016 season.

“I’ve got stuck into my rehab and feeling really good now, the knee is feeling good and I’m looking forward to a big pre-season,” he said.

“Hopefully I’ll be right to go (by day one of pre-season).

“I’m just looking forward to coming in, meeting my team mates and working hard and gaining their respect as soon as possible.”

The 2013 Rising Star winner was also glowing in his praise of the Hawks’ famed culture, which was another key factor behind him deciding to move back to Victoria.

“They’ve had a lot of success, their culture has been talked about regularly and since meeting the guys it’s evident that their culture is really strong and that was a big attraction for me,” O’Meara said.

“After meeting with Hawthorn I was super impressed and felt they were the right fit for me.”