When he made a low-key return to senior football a fortnight ago, almost an entire year separated Tom Nicholls’ 15th and 16th career appearances. The 356-day gap caused by season-ending surgery to repair a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament drew little attention but its significance should not go unnoticed.
 
The classy tap ruckman has endured an injury-plagued career at Metricon Stadium, but he showed glimpses of brilliance against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night with his ability to place the ball in destructive areas for the likes of Dion Prestia, Michael Rischitelli and co to feast on.
 
With Greater Western Sydney’s Shane Mumford last week and Brisbane’s Stefan Martin on the weekend, Nicholls’ return after such a long lay-off has been met with two of the toughest tasks in his craft. In the face of adversity, the man with the deft trigger hand fought gallantly against Martin to finish with 27 hitouts at an advantage percentage of 29.6 per cent.
 
Two games into another comeback from injury and Nicholls admitted he is beginning to feel comfortable again at the elite level. The sort of comfort that only comes from stringing large patches of football together.
 
“It’s been awhile since I’ve been back out there. (I) obviously played last week and a few reserves games. But, it’s good to get some continuity and some fitness in the body and hopefully I’ll stay out there longer this season,” Nicholls told SUNS RAW after Gold Coast’s resounding QClash victory.
 
“Apart from the four bags of ice on my leg it’s (knee) holding up really well. I’m still getting that match fitness that comes each week. But I find once you play again you feel a lot more comfortable out there and you start to read the game a lot better too.”

Following the SUNS breakthrough victory, Nicholls revealed that Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade demanded his side continue to play with the same level of effort and endeavour they displayed against the Lions. The standard has now been set, with the QClash effort to be used as a gauge.
 
“He obviously applauded the effort and just said its something we’ve got to bring each week – we know that,” Nicholls said.
 
“Those first four weeks were very disappointing in the effort that we did bring but going forward we’ve set the standard there and we know that’s what we’ve got to bring each week if we want to get results and be a good team.”