BRENT Staker has taken the first steps in another long rehabilitation but is confident he can still play senior football this season.
The Brisbane Lions utility ran for the first time on Tuesday morning since suffering a rare calf tendon problem just behind his knee in February.
It is the third long comeback for Staker in three years after back-to-back knee reconstructions ruined most of his 2011 and 2012 seasons.
The usually upbeat 30-year-old said this injury had been his worst yet but he was still hopeful of playing this year.
"If I have no more hiccups from here on in, an awesome outcome for me would be to play the last six games of the year," he told AFL.com.au.
"That'd be realistic because you've got to do a mini pre-season, go through the reserves and get some match fitness, get an idea of the game again and get back out there."
Tuesday's eight minutes of running – 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off – was a huge relief for Staker, who had troubles diagnosing, and then overcoming the injury.
"A lot of people probably wouldn't understand the rarity of this injury," he said.
"It's something that has never happened before, a calf tear in this particular position and how it tore and the other parts around the calf that were involved.
"This is the injury that has tested me the most. I've had two knee reconstructions, cartridge, bone graft, broken thumb and out of all the injuries, this is the one that has really tested my patience.
"It was the not knowing of how it happened … then the not knowing of how to repair it, timeframes, waiting for your body to react and heal as well."
Staker played 15 games in 2013, and despite spending some time in the back half, was used largely in the forward 50 and was able to kick 21 goals.
He then signed a two-year contract extension and said he still felt there was good football ahead of him.
"What doesn't break you makes you stronger," he said.
"I have turned 30, but I still think there's plenty of time ahead.
"While you're on the sidelines, I'm a bit of a worrier, so you worry and think the game is moving so fast but as soon as you start training again and get back around the boys, you just fit back in and feel great.
"When your body's feeling good, you feel unstoppable."
