Following a prolonged stint on the sidelines, Cameron Delaney has played his first game in the blue and white hoops.

After arriving at the Cats from North Melbourne at the end of 2014, the 23-year-old rookie has endured numerous setbacks before finally being fit to play for the VFL Cats in their loss to Box Hill on Saturday.

Despite being restricted to only a half of football, Delaney impressed in his first match in 14 months, playing in a key defensive role.

“I was pretty excited to get out there today really. It was only a half but I just wanted to get out there and get back into it,” Delaney said after the match.

He finished with 10 disposals; four marks and two rebound 50s and was happy to be back playing competitive football again.

“I’ve been trapped in rehab for that long, it’s just nice to be out there and be amongst it, just running around, kicking the footy and just enjoying yourself.

“I just wanted to get out there and enjoy it because I wasn’t really sure how the body was going to hold up and I still had little doubts here and there,” Delaney said.

Whilst he was understandably nervous coming in, he was confident that his body would hold up due to the extensive time he has spent in rehab and the help he has been given from club doctors and physiotherapists.

“I’ve come into this game being pretty much over prepared, that’s what the club set me up to be, so next week I’ll play a bit more and then last game I’ll play probably a full game.”

Delaney saw the necessity in playing the last couple of games in the VFL, with an intent to prove to himself and to the club that he can be a force when fit.

“A few games is probably what I needed for myself just to know whether the body was going to hold up and maybe enough for the club to see it is going to be all good,” Delaney said.

“Whether we get through these next two games and if the club would like to keep me on, I’d love to stay.”

Whilst being sidelined has limited Delaney’s ability to play, he has been able to grow as a leader, helping the younger players in the VFL squad.

“I’ve been here watching the games for the last few weeks just directing,” Delaney said.

“We’ve got a lot of young fellas in the VFL, as much as I’m still pretty young myself, I’ve probably got to be a leader amongst the rest of them.”

Becoming a leader, or even a respected teammate is never easy at a new club, especially for Delaney, who has spent the majority of his time at Geelong trapped in rehab.

“It was pretty hard early to come into the new club as you want to earn a bit of respect from the boys.

“(I couldn’t) really do it as much because you sort of get that from being out on the track and from game play situations,” he said.

Originally from Geelong, Delaney was excited to return home after only six games in four years at North Melbourne.

“I was contracted still at North so they were always going to pick me back up as a rookie but I just sort of thought I’ll put the feelers out if any other club was interested,” he said.

“I was a bit stagnant the last 12 months with my injury and I felt like a fresh start would be a good thing so coming back home with family and friends was just the way to go.”

Despite his family being avid Geelong supporters, Delaney did not support the Cats growing up, choosing to align himself with the club he would ultimately play his first AFL game with, North Melbourne.

“My stepdad was a Roos supporter, and being a kid, I just jumped ship and probably got to a stage where I was a little bit too old to jump back,” he said.

“I was a Roos supporter but I probably knew a lot more about Geelong so there was always a bit of a soft spot for them I guess.”