Jackson Thurlow says he didn't give his reconstructed knee a second thought during his comeback game against Hawthorn in his home town of Launceston.

Thurlow started nervously against the Hawks but finished strongly, finishing with 18 disposals.

“Having had 12 months out of the game there was always going to be some nerves,” he told SEN after the game.

“But being in Launceston made it a little more nerve-racking because it’s probably been about five and a half years since I’ve played here.

“I gave away a lot of tickets. There were a lot of Thurlows in the stands.”

Thurlow is hoping to lift his output through the remainder of the pre-season and win a spot in the team to play Fremantle in the first round of the home and away season.

“I still want to push into the 22 and have an impact but after 12 months out I’m basically unproven,” he said.

“I’m the new boy in the team so I have to prove myself again and that starts at training and in the pre-season games.

“[The game against Hawthorn] was a good step. I wasn’t expecting a heap but I think I worked my way into it slowly, very slowly.”

Geelong's next match in the JLT Community Series is against Adelaide on Sunday, March 5.