Former Sandhurst and Bendigo Pioneers player Flynn Perez has ticked off another box with AFL club North Melbourne in his recovery from a knee reconstruction.
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Perez played a half for a combined North Melbourne-St Kilda reserves team against the Brisbane Lions reserves in Queensland.
It was his first game since injuring his ACL while training in December, 2018.
The smooth-moving half-back or midfielder relished the opportunity to return to action.
"It felt good. It's been a long time coming as well all know, but it was good to get out with the boys and play a half,'' Perez told nmfc.com.au
"I got through which is the main thing and I feel good.
"For me, it was just about getting through the game and the body felt good. I probably could have played more, but the strength and conditioning staff pulled the pin.
"It was just about getting through and feeling the intensity of the game again."
Perez picked up several possessions and wore a few heavy tackles and bumps in a confidence-boosting - mentally and physically - half of footy.
"I felt pretty good. It's a lot more stop and start intensity kind of compared to when you're out at training,'' Perez said.
"I'll get used to that over the next few weeks and I'll just keep building each week."
Perez, who celebrates his 19th birthday next Tuesday, said the club had taken a no risk attitude with his rehabilitation program this year.
"It's been cautious since pre-season. It's a bit frustrating for me, obviously, but you have to do what you're told,'' he said.
"Hopefully, in the long run it will pay off."
North Melbourne general manager of football Brady Rawilings told nmfc.com.au that the coaching staff had been impressed with Perez's attitude towards his training.
"We've been ultra-cautious with him, a young player coming in with ACL history," Rawlings said.
"We just needed to get him back to full strength for those few months after the minor setback, but he's ticked every box since then. If we were playing VFL at the moment, he'd probably have three games under his belt."
The Roos' next game is against Collingwood on Monday night.
Despite not playing a game for the Bendigo Pioneers in 2019 because of the knee injury, Perez was picked by the Roos with selection 35 in last November's AFL National Draft.
Read more: Perez pumped up to return to footy in 2020
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