A decade ago Carl Frazier lobbed at the Kangaroos and participated in his first-ever AFL training session like a newborn calf.
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"I didn't know any of the rules," he said, "and I didn't know how to kick or handball when I first started."
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At No 1 Oval on Saturday, the 30-year-old backman will captain the side for the first time, in a season opener against the Nomads. He described it as a "great honour".
The past nine seasons have been a fruitless pursuit of the premiership glory the club tasted in Frazier's rookie year.
While all bar one of his teammates from that premiership-winning side have departed, including Drew Murden, his Tamworth High friend who convinced him to attend that first Roos training session, the veteran defender has been there each subsequent year.
Luke Robinson is the other survivor of the side who beat Inverell in the grand final that year.
Frazier said: "I've made good friends out of joining the club, and had a lot of good times."
It has been lean pickings for the Roos in recent seasons, but Frazier is confident the side will perform well in 2020.
There was a "good vibe" at training, he said, with "plenty of numbers". "We've got plenty of young players stepping up this year, and they're really talented.
"And then there are a couple of returning players who haven't played in a few seasons. So I think this season's looking good."
The competition will be truncated because of COVID-19, but will be highly memorable nonetheless because of the dark times.
"Everyone's keen to pull on the boots," Frazier said.
