North Melbourne midfielder confident he'll be back before finals
MIDFIELDER Daniel Wells believes he is on track to return to the North Melbourne line-up before the end of the home and away season.
Wells’ specialist cleared him during the week to take his rehabilitation to the next phase and increase his running intensity.
Wells suffered ligament damage to his lisfranc joint – first believed to be bone bruising – which has kept him out of the Kangaroos line-up since round five.
"It was some good news from the specialist the other day," Wells told The Footy Show.
"Probably still a little way away from actually training with the guys, that’s the next step I want to do.
"I’ve done some pretty big running sessions, not so much distance, but just intensity, we’re really starting to step it up.
"I’ll run again tomorrow and this will be the third one (session) in a row, so far it’s pulled up really well."
The 29-year-old is confident he will take part in North Melbourne’s end to the season.
"I think so, depending on what shape I’m in, what condition and also what touch (I have), it’s going to take a couple of weeks to find that out," he said.
"At this stage it looks like I should be able to return this year."
Wells’ teammate Drew Petrie accidentally stood on his foot in the lead-up to the round five clash against Collingwood where it was first examined as bone bruising.
He took his spot in the line-up before having it re-assessed after experiencing more pain, and learned the full extent of the damage.
"Lucky it was just the ligament damage and not the whole lot which is probably season ending," he said.
"Early days, I was thinking I might have to wait until next year, as the weeks went on, I just needed that time to rest up."
'I made a mistake': Hinkley takes blame after Port's captain call backfires
Ken Hinkley has placed the blame on himself and says it was a mistake to play Connor Rozee after he entered the Showdown with questions over his fitness
Three in a row: Crows reign supreme in gutsy Showdown win
Adelaide led from start to finish in its 30-point Showdown 55 win over Port Adelaide
Fantasy
Fantasy
LISTEN: Who to hold or fold, captains, news, more
Tune in for the latest Fantasy news with The Traders
Ooh aah, six years for McGrath: Top pick sticks with Dons
Essendon has secured vice-captain Andrew McGrath till the end of 2030