Anthony Morabito describes his comeback to the Fremantle Dockers as a dream come true.
After almost 1400 days sidelined from the AFL by three career-halting knee reconstructions, the 23-year-old finally took the field in the third quarter of the Dockers' 63 point thrashing of Melbourne in Darwin on Saturday.
He managed to gather eight possessions and had a chance to kick a goal in the final minute when he missed a running shot from 25m.
But, after waiting so long to play just his 24th AFL match, he was elated.
"It was a dream come true really, Morabito said.
"It's been a long time and I was really thankful the boys embraced me and brought me into the game."
There were times he may have mentioned the possibility of walking away from the game as the surgeries and rehab took their toll, but he denied ever seriously considering an exit.
"I never got close to calling it all off," he said.
"When you're full of emotion you tend to stay stuff that's off the cuff, but I'm thankful for my upbringing that I was able to keep going on, because of the person I've been moulded into."
He said the game hasn't changed much since 2010 when he last played for Fremantle, in their semi-final loss to Geelong at the MCG.
"I don't remember four years ago," Morabito said.
"I've played 10-15 weeks of WAFL footy and at that level you get a good feel of competitive footy and it was just a progression from there. I didn't find it overly different."
After the match he was feeling fine, he said, thanks to training sessions that took him above and beyond the strain brought on by a game.
"I've pushed my body to levels probably further than that so I was very comfortable," he said.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon liked what he saw from Morabito.
"Selfishly, we always wanted an AFL powerful midfielder back... and that's been prised open a little bit more tonight," Lyon said. "He's coming and coming quickly."
However he also warned: "He'll have to continue to fight for his spot."
He hasn't yet decided whether Morabito will play a full game next week against Greater Western Sydney, and scoffed when asked whether Morabito would join a finals line-up.
"Can we just enjoy the moment for a little bit? I think it's an unfair question; at the end of the day, our players pick themselves."
If Morabito's form continues, that could be exactly what he does.
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