WHETHER or not Geelong wingman Josh Cowan's tale qualifies as a footballing hard-luck story will not be known until at least the end of this season.

Since his arrival via the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, the bushy-haired runner has used his light feet and quick step to bounce around AFL grounds just 14 times.

He is the only player from his draft year to have played fewer than 20 games and remain at his club, with traded former teammate Nathan Vardy and former Demon now Hawk Jack Fitzpatrick the next closest current players with 25 games apiece. 

But drill down further and an argument can be made that the worst is far behind Cowan. 

He played the final nine games last season to re-establish a career that promised so much after he arrived from playing in a senior Daylesford premiership to make his debut in round 10, 2011 as the Cats headed to their most recent flag.

That fact brought a grin to a face that rarely loses the smile, one of the aspects that make him a popular figure at the Cats. 

"It was really good to finally get back out there and show yourself you can actually play at the level and your body can actually get through because it had been a horrid couple of years watching plenty of footy," Cowan told AFL.com.au. 

"I was pretty happy with that." 

Having his name on the teamsheet was not a bad omen for Cats fans either because he played in wins in each of his first 13 games, experiencing the pain of defeat for the first time on preliminary final night last season. 

"My luck ran out in the preliminary," Cowan said. 

"[We were] disappointed to lose after putting in all that work but hopefully that drives us to go that one step further this year."

The 25-year-old knows he is among a group of middle-aged (in football terms) players who need to step up if the Cats are to take the huge leap from losing preliminary finalist to premiership winners.

Josh Cowan lays a tackle on Hawk Liam Shiels. Picture: AFL Photos

Cowan has shown already how desperate he wants to be part of that quest.

His body-management routine is way beyond the normal but he describes what he does in the low-key manner that affirms his Daylesford upbringing. 

"[I do] all my normal exercises and then do a lot of single-leg stuff so I can really get after that muscle and make it stronger rather than doing double-leg stuff. You can feel the difference," Cowan said. 

"We just try to keep that strength up and keep on top of my flexibility because I feel like a few of my injuries were overstretching." 

Flexibility might be important to his fitness but it's versatility that makes him a valuable asset to Geelong. 

He can run all day, tackles hard and is one of the outside players that seemed in short supply at the Cats at various times last season.

Suited to either a wing or a high half-back role, he is content to let the game's bulls lock horns in the contest while he drives the getaway car into space.

Being more focused on getting up and down the ground than worrying about his possession tally helped him get into the groove. 

"I didn't worry about trying to get 20 touches a game and keeping my position in the team and just made sure I knuckled down and played the role that the coaches wanted me to play," Cowan said.

Such anxieties are reality for someone on the knife-edge of one-year deals and ragged hamstrings and previous Achilles problems, but Cowan has shown himself to be tough, dealing with any setbacks without complaint. 

"It's hard to injure yourself and then know exactly what you are going to have to go through and do it all over again. That is not great but you just try to move on as quickly as you can, map out your plan and get stuck into it and hopefully you can fix the problem and be back in no time," Cowan said. 

He says those around him at the club have been vital in enabling him to establish that mindset and now he hopes he can keep rolling on from where he left off at the end of last season. 

Cowan has been back in full training since Christmas and played about a half in the first JLT Community Series game against Hawthorn.

Studying a building course at Gordon TAFE, he doesn't let the past or the future play on his mind. Right now is all that matters to Cowan and Geelong. 

"I have always just loved football so just jumped straight back into it and tried not to worry about that pressure stuff," Cowan said. 

"Hopefully once I am fit I can get out there and play some good footy and it will all take care of itself."