Adelaide midfielder Jackson Hately had to bide his time in the SANFL before earning a call-up to the AFL side in Round Six.

But since returning to the top level, the 21-year-old has taken his game to new heights.

Hately, who spent two years at the GWS Giants before joining the Crows in the 2020 pre-season draft, has averaged 18 disposals and 4.6 tackles in his five games so far.

He had a standout game in the loss to Brisbane earlier this month, finishing with a career-high 27 disposals, as well as five tackles, four clearances and a goal.

Speaking to Belinda Sloane on this week’s episode of The Crows Show, Hately credits meditation, yoga and pilates with helping to cement his spot in the team.

“I love meditation, it’s one of those things that I like to do each day if I can, it really helps the mind,” Hately said.

“I find it relaxes me a lot (along with) some other things, like pilates.

“We have a great pilates instructor down at Glenelg, Clancy, so a few of us boys get down and do some sessions with her which are really good. 

“My mum is actually a yoga teacher as well, so it's very convenient.”

Hately said he found it difficult in his first few years at the elite level to switch off and his mind was always buzzing with footy talk.

But he has now realised that having other interests and hobbies not only helps being mentally ready for the rigours of AFL, but also the physical challenges.

“Early when I first started and even before I first got drafted it was all so footy, footy, footy,” Hately said.

“I think you find speaking to some of the older guys that balance is super important and that’s something that I’ve had to learn as I’ve sort of come in and for me I really feel how it helps.

“I meditate on game days, that’s part of my game day routine.

“I find that puts me in a good sort of relaxed frame of mind and then I’ll sort of build into the game from there.

“I think it just gives me a greater sense of clarity and so it’s not one of those things where you can do it once and then all of a sudden you are really clear.”

Hately said he was pleased to have been playing well but hoped for consistency with his own form and that of the team’s in the back half of the year.

“I’ve been feeling good these last few weeks and I’ve felt like I’ve been building in some good form,” Hately said.

“Personally, I’m really enjoying playing in that midfield role, feeling like I’m helping the team so just looking to continue to get better and keep going from there.”

Also on The Crows Show, Kieran Strachan talks about his return to the AFL field and how fellow ruckman Reilly O’Brien has helped him throughout the past month and Luke Nankervis joins Tom Doedee to discuss his Crows Whopper Moment.

The Crows Show airs on Channel 7 this Saturday at 12.30pm.