Elation, joy and a little bit of relief – those were the words used by Swans defender Alex Johnson on Saturday, after playing his first AFL match since the 2012 Grand Final. 

The 26-year-old returned from five knee reconstructions and 12 surgeries, as Sydney beat Collingwood at the SCG – some 2,136 days since the Swans edged the Hawks to win the 2012 flag. 

Johnson said Sydney’s thrilling two-point win was the icing on the cake in his comeback.

“I’m just absolutely rapt to be back in the AFL and to play in a game like that, when the boys really dug in when they needed to in the last quarter, and get a result is just unbelievable,” Johnson told SwansTV post-match.

“I’m really happy to get back healthy and have a win.”

Sydney defender Dane Rampe piled up 133 games in the time Johnson spent on the sideline and the two backmen played together for the first time on Saturday. 

The returning Swan made a beeline for one of the tallest players in VFL/AFL history, Magpies forward Mason Cox, from the opening bounce.

Johnson knew a colossal challenge awaited and said he was thrilled with how he performed.

“When John revealed the team to me on Wednesday and I saw my name was on Cox I thought, ‘I’m giving away a few inches here’,” Johnson said.

“Here’s a big boy, Mason, and he’s had an unbelievable season. It was a big job for me, but I thought I held my own. He got on top of me a few times but overall I’m just really happy.”

A crowd of 39,238 packed the SCG as Johnson became the first player in the AFL to return from five knee reconstructions.

Among the onlookers were his mum and dad, brother and sister, uncles and aunties, girlfriend and a host of mates who had travelled from Melbourne.

In the changerooms after the game, friends and family swamped Johnson with handshakes, hugs and big high fives.

The 2010 draftee, who played his long-awaited 46^th AFL game, said he had received endless support.

“John (Longmire) told me early Wednesday morning, so I had three days to prepare for it and Wednesday was a whirlwind,” Johnson said.

“My phone absolutely ran hot. I’ve probably received 450 messages over the past three days.

“The support I’ve had throughout the whole journey and then the support I’ve had this week from the inner sanctum, and then the football community and the wider community, has just been overwhelming.”