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FIVE days before Cameron Wood's remarkable AFL return the Carlton ruckman was driving home from Ballarat a little surer his career was dead.
The 27-year-old — traded by Brisbane Lions in 2007 and delisted by Collingwood two years ago — was fresh from his 33rd VFL appearance in 18 months and remained on the Blues' rookie list.
But a whirlwind week which saw him overthrow Robbie Warnock as coach Mick Malthouse's ruckman and overpower North Melbourne star Todd Goldstein around the ground culminated in a Powerade shower as the Blues sang their song after a shock win against the Roos.
"Unbelievable," a beaming Wood said after the Friday night Etihad Stadium clash, his first AFL game in 692 days and 65th of his career.
MATCH: BLUES DOWN MISFIRING KANGAS
"It's been a whirlwind two years actually. I thought I was done, on the scrapheap, so this is beyond my wildest dreams.
"The last month I've played in Bendigo, in Preston in a bloody mudheap and at Ballarat where it was about four degrees.
"Driving back from Ballarat I was still thinking this was a long way from playing AFL again."
Carlton might have surrendered the hit-outs 34-49 in the 23-point win but Wood booted a goal and pulled down seven marks (three contested) a decade after he was recruited as a top-20 pick.
The Jarrad Waite-inspired upset delivered a death knell to the Kangaroos' top-four hopes and boosted the Blues to a 6-10 record and 13th on the ladder.
MR IMPORTANT: JARRAD'S RETURN WORTH THE WAITE
Wood was rested from the final quarter of last week's VFL clash in the first hint a return was on the cards but Malthouse waited until Thursday to deliver the news.
"I played under Mick for four years at Collingwood and he's brought me back from the scrapheap," Wood said.
"I'm in love with Mick at the moment. Mick's been really good to me as he has with a lot of the young players."
Cameron Wood enjoyed his return to AFL football. Pictur: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
The Magpies coughed up pick 14 for Wood as the Lions secured disappointing Demon Travis Johnstone and he played just two finals and missed the 2010 flag before Nathan Buckley swung the axe.
"I need to try and play as consistently as I can because at Collingwood, that was probably my downfall," Wood said.
"My best was as good as anyone in the competition but I'd just have lulls and float in and out of matches."
GOOD NEWS: MENZEL'S KNEE SCANS
Wood's mum Sue and aunty flew from Adelaide for Friday's match and if he remains in Malthouse's side he is expected to take on Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands in Round 19.
"I reckon he is so much more mature than what he was at Collingwood," Malthouse said.
Wood trained with Richmond before 2013 but the Tigers opted for delisted Cat Orren Stephenson.
Wood dominated for Williamstown last season where he represented the league while he has averaged 47 hit-outs this season.
"I got the call (I'd been rookie-listed) from nowhere and five days later I was training in the snow in Arizona with the boys," he said.
Waite who booted four goals on return in a best-afield display to dramatically lift the free agent's stocks.
"I hope the process is in place now that Jarrad can be a good contributor for us," Malthouse said.
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