The 30-year-old is set to notch his 100-match milestone on the weekend when Hawthorn face the Western Bulldogs.

While home club Wodonga Raiders would be the frontrunner for the prized signature of Ceglar, he poured cold water on finishing his career at Birallee Park.

"I think once my AFL career is finished that will probably be it for me playing-wise," Ceglar said.

"I realise that if you can't commit 100 per cent to whatever standard you play, that it's a waste of time.

"After 12 years in the AFL system plus going through the TAC Cup program, it's been a long time.

"I think I will just enjoy being a spectator and getting my weekends and winters back to do whatever I want.

"But I guess you never say never but I do feel it's highly unlikely that I will play in the bush."

Ceglar was drafted by Collingwood at the end of 2010 but failed to crack it for a senior game in his two years at the Lexus Centre.

Thrown a lifeline by Hawthorn via the rookie draft, Ceglar made his AFL debut against the Brisbane Lions in round 16 of 2013 in Launceston.

Fast forward to the weekend and he will play his 100th match in the brown and gold in his ninth season with the club.

"I didn't even know I was closing in on the milestone until somebody mentioned it to me a couple of weeks ago," he said.

"The milestone certainly isn't something that has been a major goal of mine because it's hard enough to get one game, let alone to get to 100.

"Once I finish my career, it's probably something that I can look back on and be proud of I guess.

"I'm not even sure how many players have got to play 100 games with the Hawks to be honest.

"But to play all 100 matches under one coach is something a little different and a bit unique I suppose."

COVID-19 has put a dampener on the milestone with spectators not allowed to attend AFL matches, ruling out family and friends helping Ceglar celebrate the special occasion.

"I'm not even sure whether the match is being played in Melbourne or Tasmania yet," Ceglar said.

"It's disappointing for me that my family and friends miss being part of it all after all the support everybody has given me.

"Blaike Hardwick played his 100th last weekend and we couldn't do much to celebrate and he couldn't have any family or friends there either.

"I guess I might have to plan a dinner with family and friends once the season is over to celebrate the occasion and look back on it.

"Fingers crossed we at least get the win and make it three in a row."

Like most players who play at the elite level it has been a roller coaster ride for Ceglar over the past decade.

Ceglar played in a VFL flag with Box Hill in 2013 and can consider himself unlucky not to have played in Hawthorn's premiership in 2014.

In a breakout season for Ceglar, he was a regular in the Hawks' line-up and played 15 games, including the qualifying and preliminary finals.

However, Hawks coach Alistair Clarkson elected to drop Ceglar for the big dance with Ben McEvoy replacing him in the side that would go on to defeat Sydney Swans.

"I'm not bitter about missing the 2014 flag, far from it," he said.

"I try not to get too caught up in the ups and downs of playing AFL because if I did, it would do my head in.

"There are very few careers that are all smooth sailing and most players endure a lot of highs and lows along the way.

"If you are not prepared to ride the ups and downs, you are probably not going to make it in any sport at the elite level."

Ceglar also suffered the disappointment of suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament late in the 2016 season which required a reconstruction.

"Doing my ACL at a bad time in my career was probably the biggest hurdle to overcome and took a toll on me with all the recovery," he said

"But the way I look at it, my career could have been over before it started after I was delisted by Collingwood and I could have easily ended up on the footy scrapheap.

"I'm just grateful the Hawks took a punt on me and I have tried to repay the faith they showed in me.

"I consider myself fortunate to be at a great club like Hawthorn and the relationships I have with the players and the staff is something that I do cherish.

"I have made some lifetime friends and hopefully can make a few more before it's all over."

Ceglar is contracted to the end of 2022.

It means he will play under former team-mate Sam Mitchell next season after Clarkson recently announced he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

"I've spent nine years under Clarko and he has obviously had the biggest influence on my career both on and off the field,'' he said.

"He is regarded as the greatest coach of the modern era and he has taught me so much about footy and life in general.

"Hawthorn have been fortunate to have a coach of his calibre for such a long period of time.

"A lot of the qualities that Sam (Mitchell) brings to the table, no doubt he would have learned off Clarko.

"It's exciting going forward but I feel privileged to have spent so much time under a coach who will no doubt be a future Hall of Famer and the best of his era."

Ceglar felt Jacob Koschitzke had all the attributes to be another Border export that could go on and enjoy a long and successful AFL career.

Koschitzke made his debut in the opening round this season and has played 18 matches for 25 goals.

"It's probably fair to say at the start of the season that Jacob wasn't in our best 22," Ceglar said.

"But to his credit he's worked hard and is showing genuine upside and that he has all the attributes to be a power forward of the competition for the next decade.

"Jacob is really competitive but is a great kid off the field and is somebody his family should be really proud of.

"He has had a big season because it's a tough gig being a key forward playing on the best defender.

"Jacob has really stepped-up and helped cover the loss of Jack Gunston who has missed a large chunk of the season with injury alongside Mitch Lewis."

ALSO IN SPORT:

While some players live and breathe football, Ceglar certainly isn't one of them.

The former Murray Bushranger is a passionate horse racing fan and dedicates a lot of his spare time to the Sport of Kings.

"Horse racing is my release from the daily grind of being an AFL footballer," he said.

"Following the horses that I own and getting to the races when I can is a good outlet for me.

"I spend a lot of time reading about racing and researching the breeding side of things in preference to watching a lot of football.

"I much prefer watching the races than a game of football.

"I am really passionate about the breeding aspect.

"I guess I'm like most horse owners and just trying to find my next fast horse like everybody else."

Ceglar part-owns several horses including a few gallopers with local trainers David O'Prey and Mitch Beer as well as Flemington trainer Danny O'Brien.

The racing enthusiast also recently purchased 120 acres in the Yackandandah Valley.

He is in the process of establishing the land into an agistment property as a business venture.

"It's been a challenge to get the agistment farm up and running,' he said.

"But it's starting to take shape and I intend to breed a few horses as well.

"We bought the property last November and have spent almost 12 months on setting up the infrastructure and have named it 'Yackandandah Park.'

"It gives me something in the off-season to concentrate on.

"Clarko has given me time off at different stages during the season to head home to the farm for a couple of days to freshen-up which I appreciate."

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