If you thought Mitch Wallis was going to have a slow transition back into top-level football in his return from a broken leg, think again.

Wallis was back where he belonged exactly 300 days after his 2016 season ended and played, according to Schick AFL Player Ratings, the best game of his career.

His 26 disposals, 20 contested possessions, 12 clearances and two goals earned him 28.5 ratings points, the most ever by a player returning after at least 270 days out.  

Those that know Wallis wouldn’t have been surprised what the 24-year-old delivered at Simonds Stadium on Friday night, but his mere appearance after only nine months was a story in itself.

But Wallis is nothing if not determined, telling the Herald Sun on the weekend that he was keen to ‘buck the trend’ of players returning slowly after being out of the game for an extended time.

“There is a fair bit of documentation that people coming back from long-term injuries have a slow (first) six months,” he said.

“I am going to buck that trend, I am not going to fall for that. “

“I am impatient at the best of times. It was (strategic). We pushed the limits, obviously within the boundaries, to get back within nine months, and we did.”

One person who Wallis would lean on throughout his recovery was teammate Dale Morris who broke his tibia in 2011, sidelining him for the rest of the season.

“‘Moz’ (Dale Morris) has been the most important one for me (in terms of advice),” Wallis said.

“He has been through it. There was a lot of support for me there initially, but it got to the point where I had to take the reins and it was more about how eager I was and how much I wanted it.

“I did work my butt off for a long time.”

With the Dogs now sitting at 5-4, the Saints await at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but for Wallis, it’s less about the opponent and more about the result.

“There is always a bit of a question mark to see if you can get through a game and I have ticked that box now, but I am very eager to get onto the next one.”

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