It's been a difficult year for the three-time All Australian. He missed the first 14 rounds with a hamstring injury, before missing round 17 with the flu and then fracturing his cheekbone against Melbourne in round 21.
But the 191-game veteran says he never envisaged not getting back.
"Not at all," Sandilands said.
"I still had the passion and the love for the game. There's no better feeling than running out with 21 of your other teammates.
"The burning desire to get back was always there and if that's there, you don't think about anything else."
Sandilands was arguably the difference in Saturday's qualifying final win over Geelong at Simonds Stadium. He and Zac Clarke combined for 53 hitouts to Geelong's total of 16.
Sandilands provided 31 hitouts himself and the Dockers had 21 more clearances than the Cats for the match.
"It was good to be able to contribute to the side," Sandilands said.
"I haven't been in the greatest form that I would've liked but it's slowly been building and it's just good to get some good game time in and I'm happy with where I'm at at the moment."
However, Sandilands conceded his decisive tap to Stephen Hill that created the match-sealing goal was nothing more than a fluke.
With the Dockers clinging to a 10-point lead during time-on in the last quarter, Sandilands slapped the ball forward from a boundary throw-in on the wing.
It bounced into the arms of Stephen Hill who ghosted off the interchange and burst away with five bounces before finishing with aplomb to seal the Dockers' first home preliminary final in their history.
"I can't claim that one," Sandilands said.
"That was all Hilly's good work. I was actually going for the boundary line.
"I was surprised when I saw him there and he took off."
Sandilands did not train this morning with the main group as he went through a light recovery indoors. Most of the Dockers who played on Saturday did some light skills work for 30 minutes on Tuesday.
Injured duo Garrick Ibbotson and Michael Johnson did some light running and both face tough tasks to be right for next week's preliminary final.
Nick Suban also didn't train due to his ankle issue but Sandilands said he was feeling fine.
"'Subes' is moving around pretty well," Sandilands said.
"I'm not sure medically where he's at but I'm pretty sure having the weekend off, he'll be right to go."
