Key Collingwood defender Lynden Dunn is unsure when he will return to the AFL, saying there is no timeline on his comeback.
Dunn needed a knee reconstruction after round 15, meaning he could only watch as the Magpies went within five points of an unlikely premiership.
The backman revealed he had more knee surgery a fortnight ago to repair cartilage and he is progressing well in his comeback.
But Dunn's only goal is that he is ready for the business end of next season.
"When I come back, whether it's round one, whether it's round 10, who knows?," he said
"I'd certainly rather play the back half of the year than the front half ... that would be a lot nicer."
Dunn is good friends with fellow backman Tyson Goldsack, who made a stunning recovery from a pre-season knee reconstruction to play in the finals.
Goldsack put a lot of thought into his rehabilitation and Dunn said the speedy comeback had offered a fresh perspective on what might be possible.
Normally, players take at least nine months to return from a reconstruction.
On Monday, Carlton co-captain Sam Docherty ruptured his left anterior cruciate ligament again and that will sideline him for another season.
The Blues announced on Wednesday that Docherty will undergo a traditional reconstruction.
"Tyson is really lucky that he ticked all the boxes," Dunn said.
He added Goldsack had been invaluable for his own recovery, but suspects his friend had a secret weapon.
"Catching the back end of the European summer probably helps," Dunn said.
"I've never seen a bloke go over to Europe in the middle of a footy season and come back and play in a grand final."
Dunn, 31, adds he feels fresh ahead of his comeback.
"I still feel like I'm 23-24 ... I still feel like I'm young, I still feel like I can play for three or four years," he said
Meanwhile, Dunn welcomed the AFL's rule changes, especially the ability to play on from a goal square kick-out.
"It's about time they started looking after the defenders with a few rule changes," he said.
Dunn also spoke about Collingwood's review of the grand final loss to West Coast.
"It was just closure on the day itself - we really hadn't spoken about it as a playing group or with the coaches," he said.
"We played a heck of a game, but it doesn't really mean much because we don't have medals hanging around our necks and there's no trophy in the cabinet.
"We've put it to bed now and we'll use it as fuel no doubt coming into season 2019."
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