Paul Salmon:
""It's been a very long week in regard to everything that's happened - I was completely left-fielded by Kevin and Adrian Dodoro about the idea. I'd very easily settled into retirement, to be quite honest and playing football again wasn't on my mind. It's amazing, when someone plants a seed, how quickly it can grow intosomething much larger than you anticipated.
""I'm very excited about what lays ahead. I would never considered it myself, to be quite honest - everything in my life is pretty settled. I had to asked some pretty critical questions myself, whether I thoughtI could do it. When the answer was `yes' to that, we had work through the other issues. I look forward to playing a supporting role to Steve Alessio in the first instance and certainly being of some assistance to a great youngtalent in David Hille.
""I think they're also looking at some deficiencies in the side in terms of going the next step next year. I was obviously flattered in the first instance, I said to them if nothing comes of it, it's a great compliment.
Salmon responded to suggestions he was doing the wrong thing in making a comeback. ""I'm ambivalent about all that - it doesn't bother me in the slightest. When I left Essendon I did it with the support of my wife and parents and no-one else probably thought I could make anything of my footy career after that. It has no fear about it, I love the challenge and it's not going to hurt anyone, what I'm doing. When it's all over, it's going to be a pretty small-minded person who would be critical of an initiative which is designed purely and honestly to try to win a premiership.
Salmon also talked about the successful Tim Watson comeback of the early 90s and the fact he left Essendon in less than ideal circumstances. ""That's (the Watson return) fairytale stuff, that's what I'm coming back for. There's no victory in this for me - this is purely about what I want to do with my football and for a club I still have a great deal of respect and affection for. It (his departure) wasn't on ugly terms - I've never burnt a bridge there and so I feel very comfortable about going back and getting involved again. This is not about embracing the supporters, this is about doing a job for them and I hope they embrace me over the course of the next 12 months.
Would Salmon play on for more than one year. ""As this indicates, I don't shut the door on anything in my life. This has happened all lightning fast, I haven't considered that. I've been pleasantly surprised by the response - they've been really supportive of the idea. I suppose people are less inclined to come up and tell you you're a big fool to your face. It doesn't hold any fears for me, I know I'm capable. Age is relevant to certain roles in a football team - as a ruckman, I can cover up some of the deficiencies of age with some of the experience I've gained over the last 20 years.
""It will be no different to the last 10 years of my career, to be honest. Every player has that period every year (when they question themselves) and they're dishonest if they say they don't. That's part of the mental toughness that is required to get you through every year. I'm pretty open-minded and open-eyed about what I'm about to encounter, football has no more surprises for me.
Salmon also talked about his family's reaction. ""The family's good - the kids are old enough to look forward to Dad playing footy again and Jo's been nothing but supportive the whole time we've been together,"" Salmon said.
