At the conclusion of Strathfieldsaye training on Thursday night, coach Troy Coates read out the senior side to play Sandhurst this Saturday.
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When he made it to the wing and called out the name "Vinnie Flood" the room erupted.
When Flood runs out for Saturday's clash it will be 1743 days since his last senior game with the Storm - the 2014 grand final win over Sandhurst.
"It was a special moment when Vinnie's name was read out,'' Coates said.
"Everyone was really excited. Everyone loves him at the club and he's a quality human.
"The boys are excited to see him back out there."
The popular midfielder/forward tore his ACL in the second quarter of the Storm's first premiership win.
The injury sidelined him for the 2015 season and he missed the club's second flag.
A second knee reconstruction and some soft tissue injuries threatened to end Flood's footy career, but he returned to the Storm last year and tested the water by training for a good portion of the season.
However, he didn't have the confidence in his body to play.
After a big pre-season, Flood returned to the Storm's reserves side this year.
He's played five games and was named in the best players four times.
"With the conditions looking wet this weekend we've gone in with a smaller side and Vinnie is really clean with the ball below his knees,'' Coates said.
"He's over the moon to get the opportunity. He's put in a power of work to get back.
"He trained for the second half of last year and was close to playing reserves, but he wanted to get a big pre-season under his belt before he played again.
"It's been a 12 month build up to get to this point. We're really happy for him."
The Storm are on the rebound from their first defeat of the season.
"We were a bit flat early on after losing last week, but training has been really good since,'' Coates said.
"To get Vinnie's inclusion on top of that has given everyone a lift."
The Storm's opponent Sandhurst has been weakened by the loss of star duo Andrew Collins and Lachlan Tardrew.
Collins continues to be troubled by a leg injury that will keep him out of next week's VCFL side to play the VAFA.
After being best on ground for the Dragons last round, Tardrew is back in the Collingwood VFL team this week.
Midfielder Jake Condon is also out injured for the Dragons.
Callum Prest, Vincent Rodi and Oscar McKinley are back in the senior side.
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