Sunday’s VFL match between North Melbourne and Sandringham was always going to be a special one, with Majak Daw making his remarkable return to football.
One of the most popular figures at the club, Daw's return meant so much to so many people.
"To say the players love him is a bit of an understatement," defender Jamie Macmillan told Channel 7 after the match.
"There were times in the first quarter where I forgot I was playing footy, and just found myself watching Maj have the time of his life.
"Everyone at the club knows how much this means to him, and you can’t really put it into words until you see him running around today kicking a footy."
The significance of the occasion certainly not lost on veteran defender Sam Wright.
“It’s amazing really, just to watch him with what he’s gone through. It’s actually incredible.
“Seeing him at the hospital after everything happened, you question yourself whether he’s going to get back.
“He started the steps small trying to walk again, and the way he’s built himself up I don’t know if any other person would be able to do it.
“It’s been so good for him. I’m just so proud.”
The match made even more special as the Roos enjoyed their biggest win of the season; a 57-point demolition of Sandringham.
Tom Campbell has been in stellar form all year, and was proud of the performance.
“This is a really young group in the VFL that’s been developing through the season,” he said.
“We’ve had some hard losses, but I think we’ve been trying to stay in the game for four quarters and I think that makes for a more consistent effort for us.”
Taylor Garner is back in the VFL after failing to meet club expectations, but he impressed with an all-round game.
“Yeah, it’s obviously a little bit disappointing how I got here, but yeah, I’m really enjoying the VFL, he said.
“I think it’s been pretty hard to put four quarters together. We really stood together this week and put that four-quarter performance in."