Sam Murray knew exactly how long it had been since he'd laced up a football boot, something most players take for granted.

Ever since his 18-month ban for a positive match day drug test when playing for Collingwood in 2018, Murray has waited anxiously for the day he could run onto the field again.

His return for home club Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong ended in despair when the Tigers kicked a last-minute goal to win by a point in front of the Lions faithful on Saturday.

But for the 22-year-old the match was the end of a challenging journey, and the start of another.

Murray played 13 games for Collingwood in 2018, racking up at least 20 disposals in eight of those. His ability to find the ball and take the game on with his dash and speed meant he had the world at his feet.

He was initially banned for four years after traces of cocaine were found in a test in July, 2018, but his legal team was successful in reducing it to 18 months.

Murray was set to play in the VFL for it was cancelled due to COVID-19. But it seemed fitting he began his intended path back to the top at Ganmain Sportsground.

While he was a little rusty, his ability to take on defenders and break lines with his long kicking were on display, before cramp got the better of him late.

Murray has a burning desire to play AFL again, but he's prepared to bide his time.

"My focus definitely isn't to play AFL as yet. Today was a good step forward, I found my feet pretty quick with the way I used to play," he said.

"I need to clean up a few things, and that comes with not playing a game in 686 days. To get my hands on the footy is a big one and I think I showed I've still got what got me to the top level," he said.

"It's been heavily publicised, the transition I went through outside of football and where I've got to now. For me football is something I love and to be back playing at my home club is important to me. And to do it with my brothers (Nick and Toby) is just as important.

"It's been a long time coming and I didn't know how I'd feel coming into today. I got a little bit nervy, which is normal, but overall I think I just enjoyed playing footy again."

Murray said his motivation to return to football was to justify his belief he can play at the elite level once again, and to write a positive ending to his story.

"Anyone who goes through what I did faces challenges, and I certainly did," Murray said.

"The motivation for me was I knew where I stood in terms of the outcome, and what had happened. I didn't want to leave the AFL or my last game of football with that being that. I have a point to prove to myself that I can still play at the highest level, and I still think I've got it in me."

There was a nice moment in the third term of Saturday's game where Murray speared a bullet pass to brother Nick, who took a superb mark before drilling a long range goal.

It was like they were in the backyard again, and Sam isn't just using his junior club as an avenue back to the big time.

He wants to help, to teach, as much as he can in the short six-round AFL Riverina Championship season.

"We're a young group, and I'm lucky enough to have played at the highest level," he said.

"Anything I can pass on to these guys I think they'll benefit from. I'm not just here to play footy and work my way up to an AFL list, I'm here to contribute and make this club a better place."

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