GREATER Western Sydney co-captain Phil Davis has made a successful return to football, less than three months after suffering a serious kidney injury in round one.
Davis had two operations and spent nearly two weeks in hospital after rupturing a kidney in a collision with Sydney Swans opponent Craig Bird during the Giants' season-opening win.
At one stage, he was told the damage was so severe that surgeons would be forced to remove the injured organ. However, Davis' kidney was able to be repaired.
Remarkably, the injury occurred in the first quarter and Davis played out the game in the belief he had only hurt his ribs, before succumbing to the pain as he headed to the Giants' training base for post-match recovery.
He made a far less eventful return to the field on Saturday afternoon in the UWS Giants' 104-point NEAFL win over the NT Thunder at Spotless Stadium.
The 23-year-old fared well in his comeback game, even venturing forward to kick a goal late in the game to the delight of the partisan home crowd.
"I was really anxious and nervous before the game," Davis told club media staff after the game.
"But it was great to run around. I was very rusty, particularly early, but I got there slowly."
With the comeback out of the way, Davis was hopeful he would need only one or two more games in the NEAFL before rejoining his teammates at senior level.
