The Adelaide Crows' strategy coach Dean Bailey has returned home in good spirits after chemotherapy treatment in his battle against cancer.
But the Crows remain uncertain when Bailey can resume his role with the AFL club.
Bailey, a former Melbourne coach and Essendon player, was diagnosed with a form of chest cancer last November.
The Crows will start their 2014 campaign with list manager David Noble filling Bailey's match-day role in the coaching box.
"Dean is at home currently, he has been through some treatment over the last several weeks," Noble told reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday.
"I popped around and saw him on Saturday and I know a couple of the other guys called through and said g'day.
"He's in really good spirits. It is great that he's able to be at home at the moment with his family.
"All our support is with him at the moment and we really look forward to the time that he can get back to work."
Bailey, who joined the Crows for the 2012 season after being sacked as Melbourne's head coach the previous year, fell ill in late November.
He was hospitalised and the underlying form of fluid in his left lung was found to be a form of chest cancer.
Noble said the Crows would have to cover three main roles performed by Bailey: development of young players, his match day duties in the coaching box, and strategic planning.
"I will move back into the box temporarily ... and from a development perspective, we have been able to share the workload," Noble said.
Bailey was last season suspended for 16 games by the AFL for conduct prejudicial to the code after the league investigated allegations that Melbourne manufactured results when he was their senior coach.
