DESPITE not having played a game for the senior team for more than two years, Adelaide defender Andy Otten never stopped believing he would make it back.

Otten established himself as an exciting young defender after being drafted at No.27 in 2007, but he encountered a string of injuries that kept him off the park.

He has torn his anterior cruciate ligament in both knees throughout his career and the 27-year-old spent 2016 in the SANFL, with the likes of Rory Laird, Kyle Hartigan and Kyle Cheney keeping Otten out of the team.

The backman will be out-of-contract at the end of the season but he took a step in the right direction when he represented the Crows for the first time in 929 days. Prior to his return in the JLT Community series on Friday night, his last game was in round 20, 2014, when he ruptured the ACL in his right knee against the Brisbane Lions.

Otten told afc.com.au after Friday night's 19-point loss to Richmond that he never lost faith in making a return for the Crows.

"I've always had confidence in my own ability, I just needed the chance," Otten said.

"Last year it didn't happen. The three guys playing had career-best years so you're patient. It sucks but you've just got to be patient and I never lost faith in my own ability, which is probably important and probably why I'm still around."

However, he admitted it was tough to be out of the game for so long, especially with former coach Phil Walsh killed during that period.

"It was up and down, it's fair to say. First of all, with the knee missing the year, and then the tragedy of Phil as well," he said.

"And then coming back to play … I was playing a lot of footy in the SANFL and not being able to crack into the side, although I really did enjoy the year."

Being able to train gave Otten the fitness he needed to make an impact, and he collected 17 disposals and played 81 per cent of the game versus the Tigers.

"To get a full pre-season in, for a start, really helped me get the base ready," he said.

"Just to play with the boys again and be part of the AFL side – I've missed that, I really have, over the last few years.

Otten is also keen to play in Adelaide’s two remaining JLT matces against Geelong on Sunday, March 5, and the Lions on Saturday, March 11.

"I've got two more pre-season games, so I'm really looking forward to getting more game time under my belt," he said.

"Playing AFL this year is a massive goal of mine and what I really want to achieve, and I think I will."