Often on the cusp of selection, it was a different story last year as a pre-season wrist injury forced the defender to wait until round 12 before lining up for the Crows.
Massie played the remaining 12 games of the season, including the elimination final against Hawthorn, only to be relegated to the SANFL to start 2008.
The 27-year-old dominated in several trials with Norwood but was the only fully fit member of Adelaide's elimination final side to miss selection for round one.
He took it in his stride and approached Adelaide's coaching staff for the feedback he needed.
"At times it can be a bit frustrating, but I think that’s the reality of football at the highest level," Massie told afc.com.au
"I have full belief in my own ability and when the cards don’t fall my way due to selection, I face Craigy (Neil Craig) and the coaching staff, ask why I’m not in the side and then I go to work on those things.
"If I’m not in the side then I’ll break in somehow. I have full faith in my ability to do that."
And he did. After injury sidelined midfielders Brent Reilly and Rob Shirley, Massie received the call-up to tackle West Coast last weekend.
"I had to fight my way back," he said.
"Pre-Christmas I only did a couple of sessions, so I had a real stop-start pre-season up until then and I did a lot of rehab.
"Post-Christmas I did most of the training, so it was more a case of getting an opportunity in the team and, thankfully, I got one against West Coast.
"Now I’m looking forward to a consistent year."
Massie made a statement to the match committee with a solid performance against the Eagles, his 22 possessions highlighted by a courageous mark going back with the flight of the ball.
Now his focus is on Sunday’s Showdown with Port Adelaide, an encounter he is very familiar with.
Massie made his debut for Adelaide against the Power when he crossed from Carlton at the end of 2001.
"I found my first Showdown very similar to the Carlton v Collingwood game at the MCG," he recalled.
"The atmosphere was just electric and the build-up over here was probably bigger [than in Victoria] being a two-team town. From that point of view it was a little bit overwhelming at first.
"But I absolutely love the Showdown. It’s something that, even as a player who has been in the system for a while now, I really love being part of.
"It’s just something extra special and there’s no hiding away from that.
"You get that extra phone call during the week wishing you well and you just feel a buzz around town.
"I love that and, in a way, I embrace it and look forward to the clash on Sunday."
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
