The dream of returning to the AFL playing field has been the motivating factor for Tiger Chris Knights, during nearly two years out of the game through injury.

Knights was selected in the Richmond team for tonight’s Round 3 game at the Gabba, almost two years since he went down with a serious knee injury in Round 7, 2013.

Bouts of surgery, frustrating niggles, false starts and endless rehabilitation have been a constant in the recent past for the 28-year-old, who now finally sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

“I’m a little bit anxious, but I’ve worked pretty hard to get back to this stage,” Knights told First Bounce on AFL.com.au.

“It’s been no easy feat.  It’s been quite tough.  I’ve had two lots of surgery.  I suppose it’s my personality where quitting is not an option, so I just kept persisting.

“It’s finally paid off, so now it’s time to go out there and perform.”

Knights was named as Richmond’s best player in last week’s VFL practice match, where he gathered 29 disposals, highlighting the quality the Tigers saw in him when he was snapped up as a free agent at the end of 2012.

“I came to the Richmond footy club, and they put a bit of faith in me.  It was quite disappointing to get inured so early on in the campaign,” Knights said.

“I really enjoy football, and I enjoy AFL, and I felt like my career wasn’t finished.  That was my big motivation.

“At the start of last year I thought I was going to get back and play, and circumstances unfolded that I wasn’t able to do that.

“I just kept persisting.  The vision of playing AFL football again was something I was really looking forward to.”