Print this pageDaniel Kirk—the Glenelg ruckman who quit football to chase a kayaking career in Queensland in April—is back. 
The 25-year-old has been training with the Tigers for the past week and hasn’t ruled out a return to football through the Reserves in the final five games of the regular season.
Before returning to the Bay, Kirk, who has played 40 League games in three years, phoned midfielder Adam Fisher and coach Mark Mickan seeking permission to recommence training.
He said his body was feeling ``pretty good’’ but he needed to build up his leg strength.
Kirk’s return has come at a handy time for the Tigers who will be without young ruckman Lachlan Button for up to six weeks with a hand injury.
``The first three weeks I’ve just got to get through training and get my body ready to play again,’’ Kirk said.
``There are no real expectations where or when I’ll play. I’m just happy to be back at the club and I’ll see what happens.’’
The 201cm ruckman moved to the Sunshine Coast in April to join an Australian Sports Commission kayaking talent identification squad.
He worked for AFL Queensland and was a fitness coach with a local footy side in Maroochydore, but missed football at the Bay more than he expected.
``I just wasn’t enjoying it,’’ he said.
``We were doing a minimum of 16 or 17 sessions a week and it was a real individual environment.
``It just didn’t feel right.’’
Despite that, Kirk said he was making good progress in his boat.
``Everyone else in the squad had come from similar backgrounds and we were progressing well.
``But it’s a long process just to get your balance right in the boat especially being a pretty big guy.’’
Glenelg football manager Ken Applegarth said Mickan got a call ``out of the blue’’ from Kirk to say he was coming home.
``He’s back in the program now,’’ Applegarth said.
``We’re not sure when he’ll play.
``It’s up to Mark and the match committee and when they think he’s ready he’ll come back through the Reserves.
``He’s a bit of a bonus at this time of year.’’
Courtesy of The Messenger
Story by Reece Homfray