PATIENCE and perseverance are two words that spring to mind when you think of Tom McNamara.

Few players have had to wait two years and six days - or 736 days - between matches.

But McNamara did.

After playing his third AFL match in round 21, 2009, McNamara didn’t reappear until Melbourne’s 30-point win over Gold Coast Suns at the MCG on Sunday.

In between, he has had to overcome his share of injuries, regain a place on Melbourne’s list as a rookie, and reinvent his game as a midfielder.

It was no wonder then that he spoke with passion about his return to the senior side in round 23. 

“I’m just so grateful for getting back in there. I worked my arse off and I deserved it, I think,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“It meant a helluva lot, after two years, just to get another game. Not many guys have to do that - or even get the opportunity to do that - so I’m pretty grateful for it.

“It’s been a long time. You miss it, when you’re playing VFL, but it was just great to be back out there playing with everyone and having a good time.

“I had to work real hard and change positions even and get stuck into that. But this year has been real good moving into the midfield and having a bit more flexibility.”

McNamara conceded he had endured some tough times in the past two years.

“You do get frustrated at times and then to get delisted at the end of last year was pretty disappointing.

“I was able to get back on the rookie list and I had to show that I could work hard enough and play well enough in the VFL to get another game.

“So I’ve done that, and I’m pretty happy.”

McNamara said academy coach Kelly O’Donnell put the idea to him that he should consider switching from defence to midfield.

“Kelly O’Donnell thought about it at the start of the year, because we’ve got a helluva lot of good key backs,” he said.

“I was about fifth or sixth in line, so he said ‘why don’t you give the midfield a go’.

“It’s probably worked out better for me.”

Aside from his comeback and playing in Melbourne’s first win since round 17, McNamara’s return will also be remembered for another significant reason: he lost a tooth!  

“I can’t remember who it was from Gold Coast, but as I went to tackle him and Cale Morton also went to tackle him, somehow Cale Morton’s elbow got me in the mouth,” he said.

“I’ll probably wear a mouth guard from now on.”