ANXIETY has given way to relief for Essendon's returning stars after their comeback game went off without a hitch, midfielder Brendon Goddard says.
Six of the 10 Bombers remaining at the club after serving anti-doping suspensions last season made their long-awaited returns against Collingwood in an 11-point loss on Thursday night.
Former skipper Jobe Watson, the face of the long-running supplements saga, was among the Dons' best with 19 touches, while new captain Dyson Heppell picked up 17 disposals in his first game leading the side.
Star defender Michael Hurley, Travis Colyer, Ben Howlett and David Myers also got through unscathed, and Goddard could see the relief sweep over his returning teammates post-match.
"Most definitely. Playing footy again just in general is a good relief for them," Goddard said at Tullamarine on Sunday.
"You could see they were a little bit anxious most of them, and rightfully so missing a lot of football.
"As you'd expect, there were some nerves and feeling anxious but all in all they were really positive and physically they pulled up fine."
Despite the banned Bombers training together last year and returning for day one of pre-season in November, there remain question marks hovering over their fitness and match conditioning ahead of a long campaign.
"With the guys coming back there's a lot of unknowns," Goddard said.
"I've got no doubt that they'll be able to perform, it's just (questions) about their fitness.
"But they’ve done a lot of work in the off-season and the year they were out which will hold them in good stead."
The Bombers took plenty of positives from the clash with Collingwood, including the performances of their mosquito fleet of small forwards.
Orazio Fantasia booted four goals, with recruit Josh Green (two), Colyer (two) and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (one) looking dangerous in attack.
"Their forward pressure and ability to apply pressure to the ball-carrier at times was outstanding," Goddard said.
"They'll get on the end of a few goals but the positive thing was their forward pressure."
In more good news, Goddard said the Dons could welcome back spearhead Joe Daniher from a knee injury for their second JLT Community Series clash against Gold Coast in Mackay next Sunday.
Meanwhile, the veteran onballer defended his controversial tweet last week aimed at retiring AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick over the League's handling of the supplements scandal.
"I thought it could've been dealt with better from all levels," Goddard said.
"I could've chosen my words a bit differently but that was my opinion at the end of the day.
"Now we can move forward and get on with just playing footy."
