The 249-gamer with the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne returned to Albury in a part-time capacity after his AFL career ended in 2015 and has now played 35 games.

"I'm not sure how many games I'll be able to play, but I'm looking forward to playing with Jeff (former Melbourne team-mate Jeff Garlett) and all the mates I've made over there the last few years," he said.

Cross originally retired as a two-time premiership player immediately after the Tigers' eight-point win over Wangaratta in 2018.

It was unknown at the time he had ruptured the ligaments in his right elbow in the last 10 minutes.

"It was a marking contest and I was shoved forward and braced myself for the fall when I heard a 'pop'," he explained.

"The scans showed I messed it up pretty bad, but I didn't have surgery as I wasn't going to play the next year."

The fitness fanatic, who will turn 38 on March 30, was planning to do an Ironman event, considered one of the world's toughest sporting events with a 3.9km swim, 180k ride and 42k marathon run.

"I ended up getting some bone stress in my foot because I had a lot of foot and ankle injuries during my career and had quite a bit of surgery and the road running wasn't agreeing with me," he offered.

"I decided to come back in 2019 (late July) and tore my plantar fascia (in his foot) in the last home and away game, so it wasn't the ideal way to finish that year going out in straight sets."

Cross played both finals losses against Wangaratta and Myrtleford, but with COVID-19 wiping out 2020, the foot's recovered.

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Still, after six surgeries in that area, the question is why he keeps pushing himself?

"I love the thrill, training's like a drug for me and Albury holds a special place in my heart ... where dad (Peter) played."