Western Bulldogs midfielder Mitch Wallis has finally started running again following the sickening leg break that derailed his 2016 season and saw him miss out on an historic premiership.
Wallis broke both the fibula and tibia in his left leg in Round 18 agaisnt St Kilda.
The onballer ran for the first time this week, since breaking his leg in July last year, on an Alter-G Treadmill.
"It's very symptomatic. Obviously these are pretty rare occasions where people do such a severe injury, but I've just got things I've got to tick off and I'm progressing quite well," Wallis said.
"I ran for the first time on Monday which was pretty momentous and I was pretty excited by that, so I'm looking forward to the next run and that's another box I'll tick off."
However, the 24-year-old is unsure when he may be able to return to senior football.
"I'm definitely going to have an impact this year, whether that's early, in the middle of the season or late we'll wait and see, but I'm progressing quite well," he said.
"The surgeon's really happy with how it's mended and the track I'm on. The thing that's in my mind is it's a bone and it's healed so I can't really do any more damage to the bone.
"It's just more the awareness of the muscles around it. There are a few boxes to tick yet to get my power back. I'm not nervous as such, I'm excited to progress."
