Andrew Carrazzo is well accustomed to fighting for every reward.

This has been the way for the former Geelong and Carlton rookie throughout his 163-game AFL career.

Even so, this season – Carrazzo's 12th in the AFL system – has been particularly trying for the much-admired 29-year-old.

His renowned resolve has been tested by a frustrating eight-week lay-off with a mysterious calf injury and a surprising reality check soon after his playing return.

But he told AFL.com.au these issues are now behind him and he remains optimistic that the season will finish on a much more positive note for his beloved Blues.

Such personal challenges could not have been foreseen at the start of the year, when Carrazzo's stocks were at an all-time high.

With Chris Judd relinquishing the captaincy, some favoured Carrazzo – described by Blues great Anthony Koutoufides as "probably the spirit of the group" – to become the new Blues skipper. 

The job ultimately went to the younger Marc Murphy, with Carrazzo and Kade Simpson appointed joint vice-captains.

Though disappointed to be overlooked for the captaincy, the typically selfless Carrazzo said at the time he found it "surreal" to be named a deputy leader of the club he supported as a boy. 

He was keen to support Murphy in any way he could and establish a tight leadership group to pilot the Blues to success.

Around that time, Carrazzo also signed a two-year contract extension that tied him to Carlton until the end of 2015.

However, five rounds in, Carrazzo's season hit a roadblock when his calf issue flared.

"It was just a strain but it was in a funny, uncommon spot, so we wasted three weeks trying to identify what was causing the pain and where it was coming from," he said. "Thankfully we eventually worked it out. I've had no awareness in it for a long time and I'm almost back to full fitness."

After placing himself under pressure to succeed in his new leadership role, Carrazzo said the frustration of not being able to assist the onfield effort was at times too much to bear.

"I'm a bad barracker, so I couldn’t bring myself to get into the coach's box or do anything like that. Often I didn’t even last a whole game," he said. "I was desperate to help out the boys but I wasn't able to. It was especially frustrating when we lost. I'm just glad that's over now."

However, Carrazzo still made a positive contribution with his off-field leadership, and took particular pride in the development of rookie pair Ed Curnow and Jaryd Cachia, both of whom he has schooled in the art of tagging.

He also believes his time on the sidelines could prove a blessing in disguise.

"Typically at this time of year you’re hanging on to a degree just to get yourself to the next game, but my body's really fresh, I've missed eight weeks of bash-'n-crash and I'm enjoying some continuity," he said. "Hopefully I hit my best form between now and the end of the year."

Finding that form has also been a challenge.

In his second game back, against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium in round 16, Carrazzo produced his worst game in recent memory. He had just seven touches and was substituted out of the match midway through the third quarter.

He has dropped below 10 touches on just two other occasions in the past eight years, and both times he was injured.

As usual, Carrazzo doesn’t offer any excuses, and finds solutions.

"It's the same as the average bloke out there who occasionally has a stinker at work and doesn't perform to usual standards. It was just an off night for me," he said. "Thankfully I haven’t had many of those nights in my career, and hopefully I won’t between now and when I finish.

"It was disappointing but it gave me a chance to re-evaluate a few things in my game, re-focus on a couple of things in training to improve on, and re-set some goals for the year.

"I know what works for me and what doesn’t, and more often than not it bears fruit. I've bounced back with a couple of solid games (with 18 disposals and eight tackles against North Melbourne and 25 touches against Gold Coast) and hopefully I can just keep building and help us get into the finals."