When Josh Hall steps onto the Melbourne Cricket Ground to face Richmond on Sunday afternoon, it will mark his first senior game in 729 days.

The 25-year-old’s most recent AFL appearance came against Port Adelaide in round 21, 2013, with the majority of his 2014 season wiped out after suffering a shoulder injury that required a reconstruction.

Hall revealed his journey back to senior level has been a long one, requiring a substantial rehabilitation program not dissimilar to the one undertaken by captain Gary Ablett on his injured shoulder.

“Yeah, it has (been a long time coming). Two years nearly, the last game I played I think it was Port Adelaide down there in 2013,” Hall told SUNS TV on Friday.

“I had a shoulder recon and obviously damaged my shoulder pretty significantly, just like Gaz.

“It’s been a long road back.”

After starting the year as a tall forward, Hall has spent the majority of his 14 NEAFL games locking down a key post down back.

Despite some inconsistent form early in the season, the former national high jump champion has become more confident in using his athleticism to influence the contest over recent weeks.

Senior coach Rodney Eade is looking for Hall to take the same assertiveness into Sunday’s game against the Tigers.

“It’s a chance to stake his claim going forward, he’s very athletic obviously and his form’s been very pleasing as that tall defender,” Eade told the media during his Friday morning press conference at Metricon Stadium.

“He’s giving a lot of run in the seconds so he certainly deserves his chance.”

Hall echoed those sentiments when asked about the message he received from the senior coach.

“He (Rocket) just wants me to keep it simple and obviously lock down my defender, whoever I get,” Hall said.

“I don’t know who I’ve got yet. So I think they just want me to be me and use my athleticism to sort of chop out marks and use my legs in attack and that kind of stuff so that’s just been the message to me.”

Hall’s first senior game in almost two years will also be the first time he sets foot on the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, something the North Queensland product is looking forward to.

“I’ve got a lot of family coming down to the MCG and obviously being the MCG, I’m just really excited to go down and play on that sort of ground,” he said.