It was the Port Adelaide forward's first AFL game back after suffering a shocking knee injury against Collingwood in round four last season.
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While the contest tested his knee and made Power fans hold their breath, Gray said the confidence he had gained playing with West Adelaide in the SANFL ensured he never even thought of his knee.
"I had a few people come up to me after the game and mention [that tackle] but I didn't think about [the knee] too much when I was out there – I played in the SANFL for five weeks before that so I feel really confident in the knee," Gray said.
"The doctors came up to me after the game to make sure I was all right, but there was no dramas.
"I'll have ongoing rehab to complete…but I don't think about it when I'm out on the park playing or training - I'm back 100 per cent now so [I'm] just looking forward to getting my fitness up and hopefully contributing."
The heavy contest mightn't have worried Gray himself, but the club's chairman David Koch admitted he, and the club's members, were slightly more anxious.
"Robbie played a sensational game first game back…not without heart palpitations to members two minutes into [his] game," Koch said.
"He goes into a tackle where his legs fly out horizontally…and there was a resounding deep breath which was let out when he got up and ran away."
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Gray said he was nervous when he was finally given the nod by coach Ken Hinkley last Thursday, but those feelings quickly evaporated once the game started.
"It was very enjoyable to obviously get back in the side - sitting on the sidelines watching the first three games was great, the boys were up and going, so to get in and be a part of that on the weekend was good," he said.
"When I found out (about his selection) on Thursday I went through times of being nervous and then excited as well, so sort of mixed feelings.
"I had to wait three quarters before I got on but it was good to finally get out there."
Having obviously felt the anguish of recovering from a serious knee injury, Gray said his heart went out to Geelong's Daniel Menzel, who is facing a fourth knee reconstruction after recently damaging his left knee in the VFL.
Gray said he "couldn't imagine" staring down the barrel of 12 months of rehabilitation for a fourth time, but was confident Menzel would be well looked after at Kardinia Park.
"I saw that yesterday – devastating news ... certainly wish him all the best," he said.
"I couldn't imagine doing it four times, 12 months has been a fair while for me since I last got out on the park so to go through that three or four times must certainly be difficult.
"He's already come back from it three times now and this will be his fourth ... he'll get lots of support from the Geelong footy club and probably the whole football community."
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry
