AS HE prepares to play his first game in 18 months, Dale Morris has revealed he feared his AFL career was over last year as he battled ongoing leg problems.

The Western Bulldogs veteran defender hasn’t played an AFL game since round 21, 2011, when he sustained bad breaks in both bones (tibia and fibula) in his lower right leg against Essendon at Etihad Stadium.

Last year Morris managed to play just a quarter in the VFL reserves with Williamstown mid-season before suffering a season-ending stress fracture in the fibula.

But on Friday night, the 30-year-old will make an emotional return to the Bulldogs' defence in their NAB Cup openers against Essendon and Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.

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Morris, a 151-gamer who was an All Australian defender in 2008, was naturally excited about his long-awaited comeback but admitted feeling like he was playing his first game. He has been so nervous, he said, that he has been getting sweaty hands in team meetings.

"It feels like it has come around quicker than it has, but during that time out it felt like it took forever," he said at a press conference on Thursday. "I'm just rapt the games are here. I really can’t wait to get out there and have a run around with the boys again and see how everything goes.

"I did the injury against Essendon and now I'm coming back against Essendon. I've almost gone full circle."

Significantly, he says he has regained all of his renowned speed and agility, which has previously enabled him to play on tall and small forwards.

"It's something that I really needed to focus on because coming into a game, the opposition know exactly what I've been through and I don’t want to give them any edge on me. Everything's back to how it was," he said.

Morris described his time on the sidelines as "very hard and very demanding".

"There were some low times, some tough times," he said. "But the light was always at the end of the tunnel. I was determined to get back and to play footy again and nothing was going to stand in my way."

Asked if he ever felt he had played his last game, he said: "Yeah, definitely there were times when you really start doubting yourself, if the leg wasn't progressing as much as I'd like, especially with that setback I suffered. You start to really question things. But the people around the footy club have that much confidence in myself, and I have that much confidence in them – all the medical staff and fitness staff – that (after) talking to them I knew everything was going to be fine."

Morris said he gained inspiration from fellow members of the 'Broken Leg Club', Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow and Melbourne great Garry Lyon, both of whom contacted him after the initial injury.

Dogs teammate Will Minson hailed Morris' return as "just spectacular".

Minson described Morris as "such a loved member of the Western Bulldogs footy club", "a valuable player" and "a ruthless competitor (with) a never-say-die attitude".

"He's the kind of guy that if the ball's there to be won or (there's) an opponent to beat, he'll give it his best shot," Minson said. "That's what we love about Dale – he goes about it quietly."

Dale Morris is a $220,600 defender in NAB AFL Fantasy. He was sidelined with injury for the entire 2012 season. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy Hub.