Kuwarna key forward Darcy Fogarty entered his first AFL game in more than a month with a clear focus and a hunger to perform strongly for his team.

The 26-year-old had been sidelined since Round Four due to a back complaint, but after successfully navigating a return to competitive football through the SANFL last week, he earned a recall to the  AFL side for Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

And Fogarty quickly found his rhythm in attack for Kuwarna in its eventual 68-point win against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, booting two goals and taking a team-high seven marks.

Speaking post-game, Fogarty said his approach now and moving forward centred around bringing consistency and creating opportunities for those around him.

“It’s just about playing my role really consistently and trying to allow people to play their best football around me, that’s really it,” Fogarty said.

“I go in with a really simple focus of doing what I need to do for the team and if I can execute that I’ll hopefully be a really good teammate, impact the game and people around me will be able to do their thing.

“That’s (the goals) the final product, but I was just happy to be out there.”

Fogarty’s solid performance in his first AFL game in six weeks came off the back of a three-goal game with the Club’s State League team last week.

He said it had not only helped boost his match fitness, but also his confidence before making a comeback to the AFL.

“I felt way better for it today, getting a game under my legs and blowing the cob webs out a little bit,” Fogarty said.

“I loved it, I got to play alongside Ludo (Archie Ludowyke), Marshy (Mitchell Marsh), Welshy (Tyler Welsh) - all those young forwards who are really developing well.

“I absolutely loved it and I reckon for a long time the forward line is going to be looked after with those guys coming up.”

In the win against the Kangaroos, Fogarty also rose to the challenge of playing without fellow tall forwards Taylor Walker and Riley Thilthorpe, with the pair missing the game due to a hamstring and back complaint, respectively. 

The 26-year-old said he had embraced the greater responsibility during Saturday’s game, and also highlighted the depth in the team’s forward line.

“Obviously Tex and Filthy are massive presences, and they lead so well, they keep everyone centred,” Fogarty said.

“When they’re not there, a few other boys like myself have to step up, and help out when we can. 

“We are really lucky, we’ve got Nibbler who does it really well, Keaysy, Peds is starting to do it really well, and all the small forwards who are working really hard.

“In terms of us stepping up, I think we did it really well as a collective.”

Kuwarna will now quickly shift its focus to its second Sir Doug Nicholls Round match - against Hawthorn in Launceston on Thursday night.

Fogarty said it was an honour to play in the round and was looking forward to the impending challenge of coming up against the Hawks.

“It was so fun playing in Junior’s guernsey, it means a lot to him and we are so proud to be involved in Sir Doug Nicholls Round and the history that it holds,” Fogarty said.

“It’s one of the best rounds of the year, everyone loves playing in it, and you get an unbelievable guernsey to keep, as well as playing in a round that has so much history and so much pride. To come out and get a win in this round is really special.

“Hawthorn is a really good side, so it’s going to be a good hit-out, we are going to go in and try to play our brand and we think that’s going to hold up.

“They have a lot of weapons we are going to have to shut down, but we are really looking forward to the challenge and excited to get down there.”