North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey admits he never expected Majak Daw to play football again, following an incident in December.

“I can remember going to the hospital and seeing him (Daw) not long after and he couldn’t walk,” Harvey said on SEN.

“Then I went back a week later and he still couldn’t walk and all my local friends, who don’t know a lot about football, asked me if he’ll play again and I said ‘he’s got no chance’.”

Harvey couldn’t be happier to be proven wrong.  

“He had to learn to walk again. I can remember going and speaking to him and he said ‘I walked 15m today’ and that was his little goal, just to get out on one of those old lady walking frames and he walked 15m. He said it took him 15 minutes,” Harvey explained.  

“From there, the progression has just been unbelievable.

“To see him at the club walking a couple of laps, then in the gym working the leg press or doing a really small jump, just the small stages I’ve been able to see and now he’s back in full training and running and jumping and launching at the footy.

“It’s something I never thought he’d do. You’ve got to remember he’s got 15 or 16cm rods through both sides of his pelvis. It’s miraculous to see he can run properly and then to be physical and run and jump and get pushed off the ball.”

Daw is set to make his return via the VFL on Sunday, assuming he gets through training late in the week.

“It’s a credit to Majak, but it’s also a credit to the football club for the time and effort they’ve put into him,” Harvey said.

“It’s going to be a great story, I know he’ll only play like 20 per cent (game time) this week, but just the mindset for Majak to get out there and know that he’s overcome so many hurdles and to get back to what he loves doing, it’s going to be a great thing for Majak Daw and the footy club.”