MAJAK Daw says he is looking forward to "building back my reputation" after being acquitted on three counts of rape.
The North Melbourne rookie was last month found not guilty by a Victorian County Court jury of all charges relating to an incident with a 15-year-old girl in 2007 – when Daw was aged 16.
Asked in an interview on the Kangaroos' website how he felt to be cleared, Daw said: "Eight years is a long time. Having to think about it every day … it just hasn't sunk in yet.
"All I can say is it's never going to be brought up. I can work on building back my reputation, but I feel like I can walk taller now and no one can judge me."
The allegations hung over Daw's head throughout 2015, when he only managed two senior games.
The Sudanese-born big man was delisted at the end of the season, but has since been re-drafted as a rookie by the Roos and will spend his seventh season at Arden Street in 2016.
Daw has played 16 games and booted 17 goals for North Melbourne since making his debut three years ago.
A full-length interview with Majak Daw will be published on NMFC.com.au on Thursday.