THERE will be a welcome sight for Kangaroo Flat and its supporters today when for the first time this season, the No.8 jumper is worn in the seniors in the Bendigo Football League.Roos’ captain Tyrone Downie has endured a frustrating year, having been struck down by arthritis in his knees.But 12 rounds into the season, Downie will make his long-awaited return to the seniors today against Kyneton at Dower Park.“I’m relieved and excited to be getting back out there,’’ Downie said yesterday.“Obviously, I just want to get out there with the boys, get amongst it and try to get a kick.“This year on the sidelines has been hell; I’ve hated every minute of it.“Footy is what I look forward to; it’s what you train and do pre-season for, so it has been shattering not to be able to get out there.’’Downie admits there has been times this year when he feared the worst – that he wouldn’t get back out on the park at all this season.“Probably about seven weeks ago I nearly gave up and thought, ‘no, this is it’. But I kept pushing and I’ve got there at last.’’Downie’s comeback to senior football started with a game in the reserves against Gisborne last week.With his first kick he kicked a goal, and ended the game among the Roos’ best players in what was a three-point victory – the Roos’ reserves first win of the season“The first few days after that game I was pretty sore, but I got through training well last night and I’m feeling pretty good today,’’ Downie said.Downie – who kicked 53 and 58 goals in his first two seasons for the Roos – has been training for the past month.“It has just been a slow process of resting, but then I started with bike riding, then jogging and just built it up from there,’’ he said.Downie returns to a Kangaroo Flat side that is sitting sixth on the ladder with a 5-6 record.The Roos are one game outside the top five and Downie’s inclusion will give them a major boost over the last seven rounds of the season as they pursue a second-consecutive finals appearance.“Our aim is to slip into the five and get that fifth spot,’’ Downie said.“We’ve probably got to win another five games to cement that spot in the top five, so that’s what we’ll be hoping to do.’’Kangaroo Flat coach Murray Collins said the whole club was thrilled that Downie had overcome his setback and was ready to play his first senior game since last year’s losing preliminary final to South Bendigo.“It’s exciting around the club to see that after the way he has struggled through, he has got himself reasonably fit and ready to play again,’’ Collins said.“He has gone through some hard times where he battled the demons of doubting whether he would play again, but it’s a credit to himself and his parents; he hung in there when the going was tough and he’s got himself up and playing this weekend.’’While the Roos welcome back Downie, today will be Kyneton forward James Condos’ last game until August 7 as he is going on an overseas honeymoon.Condos booted 12 goals for the Tigers in a losing side against Kangaroo Flat in round three.