When Tom Lonergan's AFL career was just seven matches old it appeared to be over.
The Geelong defender damaged a kidney so badly in the August 2006 clash with Melbourne that the organ had to be removed.
Thoughts of returning to the AFL appeared unlikely after an ordeal which involved emergency surgery, having his blood supply replaced three times, and spending four days in an induced coma.
On Saturday, Lonergan, now 33, will run out against Brisbane at the Gabba in his 200th AFL game.
Cats coach Chris Scott says Lonergan's journey to the milestone is a remarkable achievement.
"It's a great story," Scott said.
"In some ways, even though the recovery from such a serious life-threatening incident is a great one, the part that we should focus on as much is just the quality of football that he's played, particularly over the last four or five years.
"He's an All-Australian level player in our opinion and the fact his career looked like being over before it even started makes it even more meritorious."
Since that life-changing marking contest with Demon Brad Miller, Lonergan has not just returned to the top level of the game, but thrived in it.
After more than a year out of the AFL, Lonergan played for the Cats in the 2008 grand final.
He heartbreakingly missed selection for Geelong's grand final win the following year but secured a premiership with the Cats in 2011.
Scott says Lonergan is now one of the best backline players in the game.
"As his career's gone on, he's got better and better," Scott said.
"We have such a high regard for the players that can take on the best players in the competition and continually match them.
"I would go so far as to say over the course of four or five years his record on the very best key forwards would be as good as anyone."
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