It took only the one kick to signal the horrors of the past 12 months were gone and Daria Bannister was back.
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The opportunistic goal was dribbly to say the least, but it was pretty symbolic of the Launceston 19-year-old's determination to never surrender on her fledgling albeit interrupted AFLW career.
The small forward led to the ball initially, shook off her Collingwood opponent, evaded two other defenders before twisting sharply and throwing it onto the left boot from 35 metres out.
The ball bounced right, then left inside one of the goal posts, before tumbling over the line for the opening score less than five minutes into the double-header on Saturday at Marvel Stadium.
The confident celebration from the goal of the No.19 pick in the 2017 AFLW draft concealed another side after feeling relieved to play just her second-ever game after rupturing an ACL joint in the knee on debut for the Western Bulldogs 398 days earlier.
"Obviously it settled the nerves a bit," Bannister told NMFC YouTube's channel.
"I was really nervous before the game and walking out it just kicked in a lot more.
"So during the warm-up, I was hoping to kick a few goals out and kick off those nerves but it obviously didn't help.
"So to kick the first for the girls help settle the nerves and I just settled straight into the game."
Bannister ensured she was busy for the rest of the game and to deliver on coach Scott Gowan's strict edict of forward pressure when not in a position to score.
The return was capped off after Bannister's North Melbourne-Tasmanian Kangaroos edged ahead by two points at quarter-time, 12 at half-time before a three goal-to-nil third term set up the 7.11 (53) to 5.1 (31) victory.
The feeling was in stark contrast to February 4 last year when she failed to finish the game out, carried off in pain during the final quarter.
But the TSLW premiership star said the wait from countless hours of recovery has been worth it.
"It's obviously been a long process," Bannister said.
"Obviously with all the rehab stuff and making sure my knee is strong.
"Also just making sure I'm comfortable in it and today proved I'm really confident in it. It's just good to be back."
Rookie Beth Lynch presented Bannister with her jumper in front of the team just before running out.
That's when the new No.2 holder realised what it meant to the Tasmanian football.
"To welcome me back, it was an honour to put on that jumper for North Melbourne for the first time this year and running out for North Melbourne in their first year of the competition," she said.
"I honestly hope there is plenty more to come."
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
