North Melbourne great Ben Cunnington and Richmond legends Dustin Martin and Kane Lambert have made popular returns to the AFL on Sunday.

The retired champions were welcomed back to the MCG ahead of a clash between their two rebuilding clubs.

For Cunnington it marked a positive step after a health scare earlier this year .

The 33-year-old was diagnosed with multiple blood clots and spent time in a local hospital.

The situation escalated and the dual Syd Barker medallist was transferred from to Geelong Hospital for a series of major surgeries.

The news emerged after Cunnington, who battled two bouts of testicular cancer towards the end of his career, had returned home to recover on his Warrnambool farm.

Three months on and his presence in the Kangaroos’ rooms delighted fans.

“Always a pleasure,” North said.

Supporters celebrated the “heart and soul” veteran with some saying they wished he’d still been out there on the field.

Cunnington retired from the AFL at the end of 2023 and suited up for Warrnambool last year, kicking an extraordinary 76 goals.

Across the MCG in the Tigers’ rooms was none other than their triple premiership hero Martin.

He was spotted reaching out to greet Tom Lynch.

“Usually a pretty reclusive figure but great to see him back at the club,” 7NEWS Melbourne’s Xander McGuire said on Sunday Footy Feast.

“Amazing to see Dusty back at the club, isn’t it?”

Martin, who quietly hung up the boots after a loss to North late last year, was joined at the famous venue by Lambert.

Their appearance came on the day of premiership teammate Kamdyn McIntosh celebrated the 200-game milestone.

Lambert stepped away from his role as a Richmond assistant at the end of last year and the club wasted little time calling him back to be a ‘homecoming hero’.

His return for a pre-game kick and celebration came a week after fellow triple premiership winner Jason Castagna earned the nod.

Meanwhile, both Richmond and North Melbourne wore black armbands on Sunday after a difficult week around the AFL.

The Kangaroos honoured captain Jy Simpkins’ grandmother while the Tigers paid tribute to 1950s player Frank Dunin, Carlton legend Robert Walls and West Coast Eagles premiership player Adam Selwood .