314 days.

That’s how long it was between Bob Murphy’s season-ending injury in Round 3, 2016 and his return to football in the opening game of the JLT Community Series at VU Whitten Oval yesterday.

And he couldn’t wait to get started.

“He was looking forward to it, Luke Beveridge said following the Bulldogs six-point loss to Melbourne.

“I walked in at about 12:30 and he was already here – it’s like he was an Auskicker who was trying to get a free can of coke at the end of the game.”

Murphy’s first touch came three minutes into the game – part of a handball chain that ended with the familiar site of the skipper bursting out of the back half - and it was like he never left.

As the game went on he looked sharp and moved freely as he amassed 16 touches, five inside-50s, and perhaps most importantly, 87% of game time.

“I think he enjoyed it, Beveridge said.

“He was looking forward to just playing again more than anything, that’s the impression that I got. 

"It’s good to get him through his first one.”