Seven weeks ago, this columnist was writing a thanks to Rebel James Frawley for his give-all attitude on the field and in a career that earned all-Australian selection and an AFL premiership.

Frawley's decorated record featured accolades some AFL players can only dream about.

But now he is back.

There is a chapter, perhaps tinged with a little nostalgia, still to be written in Frawley's AFL career with St Kilda this week touting the Frawley name had returned to Moorabbin - James being the late Danny Frawley's nephew.

Retirement is a long time off the field in the AFL and when players like Frawley still feel they have more to offer, even if for a season or so, that is great for the game.

Comebacks are not entirely uncommon in AFL. More often it tends to be a planned trade move for a player wanting to extend his career.

Decorated Hawk Luke Hodge shocked fans after retirement to sign with Brisbane Lions for two seasons, effectively as a playing assistant coach.

North Ballarat Rebels export Drew Petrie played 316 games for North Melbourne, he was club vice-captain and the Roos' key goal-kicker before a forced AFL retirement. It was publicly clear Petrie was no longer needed by the Roos and was delisted at the end of the 2016 season.

But then he had a chance to join West Coast Eagles, with former teammate Adam Simpson at the helm, to help fill a void left by the Eagles' injured big men, for 2017. Petrie was ironically rookie drafted and ended up playing a key role in guiding the Eagles to finals.

Like Hodge, this was a chance for Petrie to move into coaching via an on-field role. Petrie came out of retirement once more last year when needed for the Eagles in the WAFL.

Retirement comebacks are not about taking up a spot or opportunity of another player. Highly-respected leaders like Hodge and Petrie have a wealth of experience to develop a young group of players in the right environment.

Now Frawley gets the chance to help hold down the Saints' backlines.

It has undeniably been a tough year for many AFL players. Frawley told Press Box, he had wanted to bow out in reasonable form. Hub life had taken its toll. The 32-year-old wanted more family time with his wife and one-year-old son.

Frawley had done the career refresh moving from Melbourne to Hawthorn in 2014. He was content with retirement until, as he told saints.com.au, he heard about the Saints plans for their group and he "couldn't resist being a part of it".

Ballarat has a rich history of pushing players and coaches to higher levels in the game for the ultimate betterment of our game: hope, no obligation, what they learn they will bring back. Even if for a one-off game like Petrie with Ballarat Swans in 2018, or the highly-touted promise fulfilled by Western Bulldog Chris Grant with Daylesford in 2008.

Frawley, an East Ballarat junior, has left open the door for a possible East Point homecoming. But he is not finished yet - that is a great reason to leave us waiting.

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