Bríd Stack: 'It was like being a kid again playing with your friends - liberated, carefree, joyful'

As I was coming off the pitch, Cárthach Óg gave me a tiny, cute little clap. In my heart, and deep within my soul, it felt like a thunderously loud standing ovation.

PITCH PERFECT: Finally back on the pitch, Bríd Stack writes, ‘I was still probably unable to fully grasp, or absorb, the full intensity and warmth of the players’ reception. But as I recall it now, the tears are streaming down my face.’

On Wednesday, I arrived at the Tom Wills Oval two hours before training began at 5.30pm. The backs were going through a series of contested drills in the cage and I wanted to be there to help out Darran, our backline coach.

I was kicking in the ball for the contested-marking, before Darran asked if I was OK to join in on a focused kicking drill. I nearly bit his hand off; I must have got in an extra 100 kicks before the session began. When some of the girls went in to get strapped before the main session began, Darran walked me through a few technical details on my kicking.