Adam Ramanauskas’ battle to return to full health has taken an important step forward with him now able to re-join his teammates on the training track. Ramanauskas is still to get a clean bill of health but specialists have given him the all clear to return to training which he did this morning at Windy Hill and the prospect remains that he may again play football at some stage this season.

Ramanauaskas has been fighting cancer since 2003. Last year he took part in a six-month clinical trial of a new chemotherapy drug and the initial results have been promising, so much so he has been given the all clear to train. While taking on a slightly lighter load, Ramanauskas is confident getting back on the track is an important step in regaining his fitness and full health.

""I guess it’s good to be out there again. It has been a long time coming, it was an awfully long year last year,"" Ramanauskas explained at a press conference this morning.

""The good thing is just to be out there again with the boys, and maybe starting to see there is a little bit of light left at the end of the tunnel.

""I am excited but at the same time probably a little bit scared. I knew I was going to be pretty far behind and that concerned me the most.""

Ramanuaskas was quick to point out that his return to the training track was an important but small step as far as he was concerned. His health still remains his number one priority and playing competitive football is still a long way off.

""The main aim is to get fit and healthy again, but at the back of my mind I hoping definitely to play footy again,"" he explained.

""At whatever level remains to be seen, if it’s with Bendigo reserves I will be more than happy, if it’s with the Bendigo senior team then that would be fantastic.

""A senior return would mean your life was back to where it was before it all started. But I think a bigger present for me would be the doctors to give me the total all clear – I would take that any day over a senior match of football.""

While joining back in training, his modified workload is based on the limitations an extended period on the sidelines brings. His training program consists of 45 minutes of skills sessions, weights, bike and swimming.

""The early signs are I have been coping pretty well with the training and the work load,"" he said.

""It’s been a little bit amusing how far behind you can fall in 10 months by not doing anything, but in saying that I am hoping it is going to come back pretty quickly and that’s the exciting part of it, to get some normality back into my life.

""The fitness staff are very much guided by me, I have to be really honest with them and tell them how I am feeling and what I am experiencing.""