Hamish McIntosh admitted there were times he didn't think he'd make it back, but the euphoria he felt after the final siren on Thursday night signalled a successful end to his first AFL game in almost two years had made it all worthwhile.
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"It's been a tough road, an up-and-down journey," the former North Melbourne ruckman said after Geelong's 38-point win over Adelaide. "It was an emotional night ... to experience that moment out in the middle of the ground when that siren blows, for that 10-20 seconds to feel that win, there's no way of explaining that feeling.
"It's amazing and (makes) all the hard work worth it. There were times when I didn't think I'd get back … it's great to be back playing AFL footy again. I missed it and I'm just going to cherish every game and every win I get now."
Coach Chris Scott admitted he knew the risk the Cats were taking in drafting McIntosh, and he "could have been standing here with egg on my face", but he believed the injury-cursed ruckman earned a new level of respect on Thursday night.
"Hamish McIntosh probably became a Geelong player tonight," Scott said. "He's had to fight hard to earn the respect of his teammates.
"You can be a fantastic trainer and a great bike rider, but unless you get the opportunity to do it out there on the track in games, it's very difficult to earn that respect.
"(I'm) extremely happy ... it is an emotional moment for Hamish. People have written him off I'm sure. We had some doubts over the decision to bring Hamish in, because we knew it was a risk at the time.
"Hamish has come back from a horrible run — eight games in three years for a 29-year-old. But he's really determined to show he's going to be a valuable acquisition for the Geelong footy club."
McIntosh said he ran the game out well and was pleased with his fitness, a far cry from the times last year as he battled knee and achilles injuries that he feared he would never play again.
"There were times last year when I didn't think I'd be able to get back. I went home and sometimes after training I was really sore and I thought my body maybe can't handle the load of AFL footy. You naturally, when you're injured so long, think those thoughts."
His 12 disposals were marred to 19 hit-outs and featured a running first-quarter goal that McIntosh said took his heart rate up "to about 250 clicks".
"Thinking about it the night before the game, I was thinking I hope I get a kick, a goal early and settle the nerves. I got one, carried on like a goose. It's just great, great to be playing."
Scott said the decision to go with McIntosh and Dawson Simpson in tandem, with sub Mark Blicavs replacing Simpson in the third quarter, had been laboured over, but he felt they gave the Cats control around the stoppages that was lacking last season.
"In the end you can look really silly if the guys don't stand up, but they did. We've been thinking for a long time it's possible for the three of them to play together. They've all got different attributes. It is going to be horses for courses, but I think we saw tonight there's a possibility it could work long-term."
Scott also hailed 250-gamer Jimmy Bartel, who kicked four goals and with Joel Selwood got the Cats home after a Patrick Dangerfield goal put the Crows in front at the start of the last quarter, as the epitomy of what Geelong stands for.
"It's almost becoming a cliche _ he is a ruthless competitor on the field, I'd hate to play against him. I did hate to play against him. But he is just such a fine individual and such a pillar of the community. If we want a role model for our young boys, Jimmy's a pretty good one to start with."
