“IT was a long time coming.”  

On Sunday, Marty Hore ran out on to the hallowed turf of the MCG for the first time since August of 2019.

After 14 games in the red and blue and three years of injury interruptions, the defender was delisted by the club at the end of 2021, only to then be re-signed by the Dees just two years later.

Hore’s story then came full circle in front of a crowd of nearly 45,000 fans on the weekend, with the 28-year-old soaking up the special opportunity, one that he thought he might not get again.

“I was absolutely loving it,” Hore told Melbourne Media.

“It was a long time coming and a lot of work behind the scenes.

“I’ve worked a lot of hours elsewhere, but I’ve got the best job in the world now.

“[I’m] really grateful for the opportunity.”

It was a solid return for the Demon, who stayed strong in defence against the likes of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton, helping his side to a 45-point win over the Bulldogs. 

Despite feeling a little “shakey” in the first term, Hore finished the game with a respectable 14 disposals, six marks and five intercepts.

“I didn’t know what was going on [in the first quarter],” Hore said.

“But then I was able to settle a bit and play my role for the team.”

Hore rejoined the Dees after two standout seasons in the VFL where he was named in the league’s team of the year twice and took out a club best and fairest playing for Williamstown.

And while he admitted it was a step up returning to the top level, that didn’t stop the defender from making the most of his pre-season.

“I’ve slowly been improving each week,” Hore said.

“It's a bit of a step up from VFL to AFL with training and the intensity of that, so that’s been something I’ve worked on.

“I think I’ve got a lot better as the pre-season has gone on.

“And it’s been a pretty easy transition [back].

“A lot of the coaches are the same, a few new younger players, all great fellas.

“And I know the system a little bit and how that works, so it’s been as smooth as possible.”

On the day of his return game, Hore was welcomed back to the ‘G by a familiar face, former teammate and premiership Demon Michael Hibberd.

Hibberd presented Hore with his second red and blue guernsey, a particularly special moment for the new No.27.

“Hibbo spoke really well,” Hore said.

“He was a great mentor of mine when I was [first] here, I got to work with him really closely.

“So, it was really nice to have him in the rooms and present [my jumper].”