CO-CAPTAIN Jack Grimes says he felt on edge about making his comeback against the Swans at the MCG, after missing eight weeks with a shoulder injury.

But Grimes, who started the season in fine form before he injured his collarbone against Carlton in round six, said it was a relief to return. 

“I was a little bit nervous coming back in today (Sunday), because I hadn’t been out there for a while,” he said.

“Although I felt fit and ready to go, just because you haven’t played for a while, you’re always a little bit unsure about how you’ll go. Once I went out there, I felt all right.

“It was a little bit different coming back in, but I loved it and I thought it was awesome out there. I blew up a little bit more than normal after not playing too much, but it was awesome being back out there with the boys.

“It was a hard, tough game to come back into. Sydney is really good in the combative areas and around the contest, so it was a really good game to play in, because I think everyone will take a lot out of it.”

Grimes said his first match under new coach Neil Craig had a clear theme from the outset. 

“The main message was to keep going at the game and not to hide in our shell, even though they had a bit of a run on. The fierceness around the contest – that messaging helped us to stay in the game,” he said.

“I think at times, when a team comes at us, we can go in our shell and play safe footy. But it seemed like when we were attacking the game, that’s what was helping us get out of the situation.

“That’s what his approach is a bit more. When the team comes at you, you go back at them even harder.”

Grimes said he was pleased with his team’s efforts to fight it out against the reigning premiers.

“That second half was probably our better half, and we felt like we continued right to the final siren. But in saying that, we got taught a lesson in a fair few areas today, like contested footy and in the clearances,” he said.

“We do [take confidence from it]. There were stages in the first half, where in the past, it could’ve blown out and it could’ve turned into a big loss and it could’ve really dropped off.

“We’re really happy that we did bounce back and play better footy in the second half. We felt like we stayed with them in the second half, but we’re still disappointed with the result.

“We’re not after honourable losses at the moment, [even though] it is a step in the right direction in the way that we finished the game. But by no means are we happy with that.”