North Melbourne footballer Majak Daw has run on to a footy oval and taken a shot at goal for the first time since his horrific 2018 bridge fall that put the spotlight on mental health in the AFL.

Daw was watched by family and friends as he rejoined teammates for a training session at the club’s home ground on Arden Street in the inner-northern suburb.

“I’m pretty excited and I’m not going to lie – I’ve been waiting for this for so long,” Daw told club reporters.

“I maybe couldn’t sleep last night because of this.”

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But the league has confirmed the defender’s playing future is still under a cloud, with a return to professional football “still a long way off”.

The 28-year-old has made a remarkable recovery after suffering serious injuries when he fell from the Bolte Bridge in Melbourne on December 17.

He had been rescued by emergency services and needed surgery to repair multiple pelvis fractures.

The club has since been keeping the recovering player from the spotlight, limiting his interaction with the media and public.

But in an open letter in January he said he hoped to be “back out there playing in the blue-and-white stripes soon”.

“I’m making huge strides with my recovery, both physically and mentally,” Daw wrote.

I have been blessed with a second chance at life.

“My attitude and outlook towards everything has improved.”

In recent days Daw was running laps, taking shots at goal and practising his marks.

In an interview published on the AFL website, North Melbourne’s head physiotherapist Matthew Turnbull said Daw had “exceeded all expectations”.

“We’re extremely happy with what he’s been able to achieve in this time,” Mr Turnbull said.

“But we also acknowledge he has a lot more steps in this rehab process to still get through before he plays.

“He’s returned to running. Now he needs to recondition and turn to the conditioning guys to go through the next step.”

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