The weather was cold, Richmond’s overall performance was cold, but the long-awaited return to senior league football of talented, young Tiger Nathan Drummond, in yesterday’s clash with Hawthorn at the MCG, was heart-warming.

It was just the second appearance at the game’s highest level for Drummond, who ruptured the anterior cruciate in his right knee on debut against Melbourne at the MCG in Round 4 of the 2015 season.

Drummond, in a different role for him as a forward, had an early impact against the triple reigning premier team, scoring a behind from a set shot at goal, before kicking the Tigers’ first six-pointer of the match, via a clever piece of front-and-square crumbing.

He finished with 10 disposals, five marks, three tackles and that one goal, in an encouraging display.

The 21-year-old admitted feeling nervous in the lead-up to his senior comeback . . .

“It sort of felt like my first game again,” Drummond told ‘Roar Vision’ in the rooms post-match.

“I was pretty eager to get back out there and just play a game . . .

“It was good to get back and not get injured.  I was pretty happy to get through the game, but disappointing that we couldn’t get over the line . . .

“I was probably a bit nervous playing up forward, but a bit excited as well with the new role, with some new faces to play alongside.”

Drummond’s first goal in AFL football, at the 19-minute mark of the opening quarter, understandably was a key highlight for him, as well as a relief.

“I missed my first one (shot for goal), which I was pretty angry about.  But lucky enough, I got the second one.  That got the nerves out of the way,” he said.

Drummond has some straightforward aims for the remainder of this season.

“Take it week by week . . . just see if I can hold my spot.  And try and work as hard as I can on the training track, keep learning the structures and keep developing,” he said.