Gold Coast veteran Michael Barlow contemplated giving the game away after breaking his leg last season for the second time in his career.
Barlow snapped his left fibula against Carlton in Round 13, having suffered a terrible break in his debut season with Fremantle in 2010.
The 30-year-old told SEN Drive that he considered retirement in the wake of his latest injury.
"I probably didn't say it publicly when it first happened midway through the season last year, but when it did happen, the recollection of my first broken leg, that was really a two-year recovery," he said.
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"I got back playing within a year but was no good for a year pretty much. Soreness and agony getting out of bed and in the night with that one. Those memories did come flooding back, to be honest.
"This time around, it wasn't as severe, but at the same time, you have those reservations about your recovery. I haven't missed a beat, it feels really good and I'm just absolutely stoked.
"Compared to the first one, (it was) about 15 per cent as severe, although it did kind of look as nasty."
Barlow moved to the Suns at the start of 2017 having spent seven seasons at the Dockers having been recruited as a 22-year-old following some outstanding form in the VFL with Werribee.
Listen to Michael Barlow's chat on SEN Drive in the player below!