Fisher told The Advertiser on May 3, following an arthroscope, that “significant damage’’ to his right knee had forced him into retirement.

But that retirement lasted less than two months, with Fisher last week pulling the boots back on to lead the Magpies against Castlemaine at Camp Reserve.

Fisher had a significant impact on the contest playing up forward.

Despite only initially planning to play between 10 and 15 minutes per quarter, Fisher spent the entire game on the ground, kicking four goals to lead Maryborough to a 19-point win, and a step closer to securing fifth spot.

“I pulled up very ordinary after last week, so I won’t be playing against South Bendigo,’’ Fisher said yesterday.

“I didn’t expect it (his knee) to pull up as bad as what it did, so I will give it another week and see what happens.’’Fisher said one of the main reasons behind his decision to play again was to provide some on-field leadership.

“Like every young side we lack a bit of leadership on the field, so it was more about providing some voice and direction,’’ he said.

“It wouldn’t have bothered me if I didn’t get a kick. I think I could have an influence with my voice and instructions out on the field.

“I had trained for three or four weeks and felt good, so I decided to give it a crack against Castlemaine.

“It took me a while to get a bit of confidence, so in the first quarter I was just happy to run around.

“I felt more confident as the game went on and I had a bit of input, but more importantly, we won the game.’’

From here, it will be a week by week proposition for when, and if, Fisher returns to the field again for the Magpies this year.

“I’m doing a lot of rehab, but I will continue to monitor it,’’ he said.

“I tried to train on Tuesday night and I couldn’t do too much.

“The surgeon has told me that if I want to play a game here and there every few weeks that could be how I could do it.

“So it’s all about trying to influence some leadership with our young blokes, and if I can do that by playing two or three games and, hopefully, not getting injured, I will put up with that.

“But I don’t really want to put my body through too many weeks of what I have felt this week, so we will just see how it is next week and go from there.’’Fisher’s on-field presence would have been a major boost today for the Magpies, who host an in-form South Bendigo at Princes Park.

While Fisher will be missing, the Magpies will also be without key players Adam Hurse (ankle), Glenn Chadwick (hip), Bodie Malone (unavailable) and Matthew Bilton.

There’s also doubt over young forward Matt Brown, who last week required nine staples in his head after an incident which is now the subject of an investigation.

Brown, Fisher and Bilton combined for 11 of the 16 goals the Magpies kicked last week.

“We’re coming up against one of the best sides in the competition, and it doesn’t make it any easier when we have five blokes out,’’ Fisher said.

“While you never go into any game conceding defeat, we know we’re up against it.

“This is a game where we just want to stand up and give the young blokes like Tyson Macilwain a chance.

“Cam Rinaldi will play on Dayne Frew, so we will hopefully just fight our way through and try to keep in the game.’’

Meanwhile, in other BFL games today, an injury-ravaged Golden Square will travel to Dower Park to take on Kangaroo Flat.

The Bulldogs go into the match without Leigh Davies, Nick Carter and Lachie O’Toole, while fellow key players Matt Tyrell and Jason Griffin continue to nurse hand injuries.

In a positive for Kangaroo Flat, new recruit Justin Maddern yesterday had his clearance from Labrador approved and he will make his debut for the Roos.

Also making his senior debut for Kangaroo Flat will be ex-Kyneton player West Bell.

At Gardiner Reserve, Gisborne will host a Castlemaine side that will be aiming to end its three-game losing streak.