It was only fitting that after spending so much time in rehabilitation together, Daniel Nielson and Ed Vickers-Willis lined up alongside one another for their first competitive hit-outs in 2016.

Nielson (knee) had missed fourteen months while Vickers-Willis (shoulders) sat out eleven, but on Sunday in the Development League, they were back.

The pair lined up on the last line in Werribee’s back six, showing no signs of the injuries that ruined their 2015 campaigns.

Vickers-Willis was named in the best, while Nielson did what he does well and repelled countless opposition attacks by getting his fist to the football.

Stay tuned for a full update on Nielson and Vickers-Willis, including match clips on Tuesday.