Crows captain Nathan van Berlo remains hopeful of playing this season after taking a significant step in his recovery from a long-term Achilles injury.

It’s been five months since van Berlo had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon in his right leg following a freak pre-season training mishap. The midfielder was confined to a moon boot for three months, but has steadily increased his workload over the past eight weeks.

Van Berlo started walking again in April with the aid of the Alter-G machine, which allows players returning from lower-limb injuries to walk or run in a controlled environment and minimises the stress and physical impact on the body.

Last week, the dedicated and relentless trainer ran outdoors for the first time since January.

“It was really exciting just to be running outside having been stuck inside the four walls of the footy club for about five months,” van Berlo told afc.com.au.

“The Alter-G has been one of my best friends over the last few weeks. I’d being doing 3-4 sessions a week on the Alter-G, building up 60-80 per cent of my body weight, which felt really comfortable.

“Last week, I got the all-clear from the surgeon and our medical team to go and run outside. From there, we’ll hopefully keep progressing.”

It’s still too early to put a date on van Berlo’s possible return, but if he continues to progress at the current rate he could take the field late this season.

“We haven’t got to the stage where we’ve put a date on my return or even a round-about date. It’s basically dictated by how I pull up and how my Achilles tendon is feeling,” he said.

“So far, it’s been pretty good. It was a bit stiff and sore the first couple of days of running, but it is getting gradually better. Once I get comfortable running at a low intensity we’ll build the intensity up and look at change of direction and all those sorts of movements I need to get used to again.

“There’s always been that little light at the end of the tunnel (for a return this season) which has made it that much easier to get through my rehab. Speaking to the surgeon, he said if everything goes to plan and I’m able to progress as we’d like then there’s certainly light at the end of the tunnel for this year.

“If the boys are good enough to play finals footy, that would be awesome and might buy me a few extra weeks to give myself a chance to get back. It gives me something to strive for and I’ll hang onto it for as long as it’s there.”

Van Berlo’s hopes of a successful return from the serious injury have been buoyed by the comeback of North Melbourne skipper Andrew Swallow.

Swallow, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in late-July last year, returned to the AFL stage in May following two games in the VFL. Swallow has now played five straight games and after a predictably rusty start is showing no signs of the injury that cut short his 2013 season.

“I’ve loved watching Andrew Swallow since he’s been back playing and even Jarryd Roughead, who is only about 18 months back from his Achilles injury too,” van Berlo said.

“‘Roughy’ kicked 8.2 against West Coast the other week (Round 12) and ripped the game apart. I was spruiking around the house, telling my girlfriend I’ll be able to get back and do something similar. I think I was kidding myself there, but I’ll certainly try (to get back to my best).

“Speaking to Andrew, he felt a bit off the pace the first couple of games back but has been in pretty good shape the past few weeks. It’s a positive sign. The best thing is that he says his Achilles hasn’t held him back at any stage in games and Roughy is the same.”

Van Berlo’s stint on the sidelines allowed him to enjoy a rare birthday dinner with his family recently. The West Australian, who turned 28 the same week as Adelaide’s clash with Fremantle, spent the morning of his birthday training and then flew to Perth to spend the evening with his mum, dad and brothers ahead of the game at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.

“It was great. I got to spend time with the family, which is something I don’t get a chance to do a lot these days,” he said.

“I didn’t get to pick the meal though, which is normally what you do on your birthday, because my brothers had to play footy the next day. Mum made up a couple of lasagnes for us, but I did get a cake so I got to spoil myself after the dinner.”