Friday night’s clash between Adelaide and Richmond was just another pre-season game for many, but it was an occasion two-and-a-half years in the making for injury-ravaged Crow Andy Otten.

Otten, 27, has been on the long and often unforgiving road back to the AFL since rupturing the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in his right knee against the Brisbane Lions back in Round 20, 2014.

The luckless defender, who seriously injured his opposite (left) knee during a pre-season training session in 2009, underwent his second reconstruction and missed another full year of football.

In front of family and friends at Etihad Stadium on Friday night, Otten took a significant step in his continuing comeback, playing his first senior game in 929 days. 

“It’s a fair few days, isn’t it?” Otten said after the match.

“It was great to play with the boys again as part of the AFL side. I’ve missed that over the last few years, I really have.

“Just to be out there with your teammates and your mates, who you’ve been with at the Club for a long time, was really special.”

On a night when players from both teams were blowing out the cobwebs in their first hit-out for the year, Otten looked sharp.

Playing in his familiar role as a third-tall defender, Otten collected 15 possessions at 80 per cent efficiency.

The 2013 Coach's Award winner didn’t hesitate to back into packs and reminded everyone of his innate ability to read the play.

He chopped off opposition attacks the way he did before his two knee recos, taking a game-high five intercept marks.

Otten was pleased to settle his pre-game nerves and slot back into AFL football.

“I tried not to overthink it, to just play footy and play naturally,” Otten said.

“I felt pretty comfortable straight away. I think having a full pre-season under my belt gave me the match fitness to start with, and I’ve been around these guys a couple of years now. I know the way they play and even though I haven’t done it for a while, they know the way I play as well.

“To take a few intercept marks and bring what I can to the side was what was important today.

“I was just really excited to play footy again, to be honest.”

Coach Don Pyke said everyone at Adelaide was rapt to see the popular and respected Otten at AFL level again.

“We know the quality of the guy,” Pyke said.

“He was close to playing (AFL) at the end of last year. He’s worked really hard through the pre-season and come back with a real determined attitude.

“It was good to see him play a solid game tonight.”

The JLT Community Series game against the Tigers was Otten’s first match under Pyke.

The Club has had three coaches since his last AFL game for premiership points: Phil Walsh, Scott Camporeale, who assumed the interim role after the passing of Walsh, and Pyke.

There has also been significant change to the playing list, with eight of the other 21 players who featured in Otten’s last AFL Premiership Season match no longer at West Lakes.

The 2009 Rising Star runner-up has watched the careers of fellow defenders Daniel Talia, Kyle Hartigan and Jake Lever blossom.

The young trio’s good form kept Otten, who had a delayed start to last season because of another knee complaint, out of Adelaide’s AFL team in 2016.

An AFL emergency on three occasions, Otten maintained his overwhelmingly positive approach in the SANFL.

He played 16 games and captained the side on several occasions, overcoming a couple more hurdles in the form of an injured thumb and suspension for umpire contact.

In spite of the difficulties, Otten is able to find some upside in the past couple of years.

“It’s been up and down, it’s fair to say. First of all, with my knee and missing a year and then the tragedy of (losing) Phil as well,” Otten said.

“I played a lot of footy in the SANFL and couldn’t quite crack into the (AFL) side. But I really did enjoy the year with the young guys in the SANFL, helping them develop and playing finals footy there.

“I’ve been one of the leaders for the young guys, which was good fun.”

Despite all the setbacks, the resilient Otten never doubted himself.

“I’ve always had confidence in my own ability. I just needed the chance,” he said.

“Last year, it didn’t happen. The three guys playing (key position roles in defence) had career-best years. It sucks, but you’ve just got to be patient.

“I never lost faith in my own ability, which is important and probably why I’m still around.”

Otten hopes Friday night’s match is the beginning of the next chapter in his AFL career, which has seen him play only 79 games in nine seasons.

He knows the likes of Lever (hamstring) and mid-sized backman Kyle Cheney (groin) will become available for selection in the next few weeks, but is determined to play an AFL game for premiership points this year.

“We’ve got two more pre-season games, so I’m really looking forward to continuing getting some game time under my belt,” he said.

“Of course, playing AFL this year is a massive goal of mine and one that I really want to achieve.

“And I think that I will.”