Kangas’ Majak potion

MAJAK Daw’s emotional return to AFL could have been a worthy end point to a courageous comeback, just like Jason McCartney before him.

McCartney hung up the boots that glorious night aware he had nothing left in the tank.

But behind the emotion of Daw’s remarkable comeback after nearly ending his own life was a performance that showed he might just be getting started.

In 2018 Daw ranked second in contested marks behind Jeremy McGovern from Round 3 onwards as he found his niche as a defender.

Now Daw might contend with Levi Casboult and Aliir Aliir for the title of football’s most versatile player.

Against Adelaide he started as a key forward, spent time roaming the ground as a ruck and then marched forward again to kick that emotional goal. He took the second-most intercept marks on the ground, was targeted six times inside-50 (second for the game) and thrilled Rhyce Shaw with his strong tap-work and second efforts in close.

North Melbourne will want to see more of that to hand him another contract for 2021 but Daw, 29, gives this side so much versatility and flexibility.

Todd Goldstein had spent the previous three games playing 100 of 105 minutes, 93 of 97 minutes and 97 of 102 minutes.

Against Adelaide he roamed around as the game’s best player playing just 86 of 108 minutes, perfectly fresh to take on Geelong in four days’ time instead of run ragged.

The challenge now for Daw is to channel Goldstein’s fitness.

His pectoral injury held him back this year but he has also taken months to get back to full fitness, Daw interchanged seven times yesterday as a burst player.

He will need to show he can build on that 70 per cent game time to ensure he’s part of the club’s plans next season.

Former North Melbourne midfielder Nick Dal Santo said yesterday if Daw needed more consistency he was still capable of feats not many were capable of in the AFL.