ADELAIDE skipper Nathan van Berlo will train on day one of the club's pre-season, having recovered from his ruptured Achilles.
Van Berlo suffered a freak training accident in January this year, rupturing the Achilles, which sidelined him for the entire 2014 campaign.
Physical performance manager Nick Poulos said that had the Crows' season extended into September, the captain could have been declared fit to play.
“If we’d made finals, we might have seen ‘VB’ play before the end of the season. In the end, he missed out by a couple of weeks,” Poulos said.
“He’ll be jumping out of his skin."
In more good news for the club, forward Tom Lynch is out of a neck brace and will also be ready to train on November 17.
Lynch missed the opening of the season due to a shoulder injury, then missed six weeks with a broken jaw, courtesy of an infamous bump from Jack Viney, before he suffered a neck fracture in a frightening incident late in the year.
Along with key defender Kyle Hartigan – who missed the last month of the season with a lacerated spleen - Lynch has returned to normal training volume.
“Lynchy is back training 100 per cent…he’s been cleared and will be raring to go in full training," Poulos said.
"Kyle’s also back running and training as normal.
“It’s great to see both boys back in good health and out on the track.”
While the injured trio will return on time, several Crows will be eased into the pre-season.
The club's leading goal kicker in 2014, Eddie Betts, had post-season hip surgery to remove a cyst and will take his time to return to full training.
James Podsiadly (hip surgery) and Scott Thompson (knee surgery) will both be eased back, while Sam Shaw isn't expected to return to full training until next year.
Shaw had surgery to repair his troublesome hamstring and will be restricted until after the Christmas break.
Andy Otten is three months into his rehabilitation after a second knee reconstruction.
“I’ve never seen someone, who has done an ACL, so positive about his rehab,” Poulos said.
“If he (Otten) has that attitude now, I’ve got no doubt he’ll come out the other side even better.”
Adelaide's first-to-fourth year players will return to training on November 5, while the bulk of the group will return on November 17.
