RODNEY Eade’s 18-month nightmare may soon be over, with David Swallow cleared to return to training and Jaeger O’Meara eyeing a return in three weeks.

Swallow says he has full confidence he will play again this year after meeting leading knee surgeon Julian Feller in Melbourne last week.

He has started running on the AlterG treadmill and is scheduled to head outside on to grass next week.

The Suns have most of the week off heading into their bye but Swallow is likely to continue the next stage of his rehabilitation from a knee injury that has restricted him to six games over the past two seasons.

He is expected to join the team for warm-ups and some drills when the Suns players return.

Football manager Marcus Ashcroft said the meeting with Feller was a significant step in Swallow’s comeback.

“Once he got that confirmation from the expert it put a spring in his step,’’ he said.

“Now we know from the specialist we are on the right path, we just carry on full bore from here.’’

media_camera David Swallow is confident of playing again this year. Picture: Getty Images

Swallow and O’Meara have been noticeably upbeat around the club in recent weeks as their return to action approaches and the body shape of both has changed drastically in the past three weeks.

They had been instructed to shed size after bulking up during an extended period when they could do little but weights.

However, Ashcroft said their new leaner appearances did not equate to major weight loss.

“It is more of a conversion, your body composition changes,’’ he said. “When your body shape starts to change, it shows you are getting close to playing.’’

O’Meara has been pencilled in to play in the NEAFL in three weeks. The final call will be made by the midfielder, given he has not played since last year’s pre-season.

“That’s the time we are working towards but it open-ended because it really comes down to when he feels comfortable,” Ashcroft said.

Eade has never coached O’Meara and has had Swallow in his side only six times.

Although the pair will provide an injection of talent, Eade said they had the capacity to improve the performances of their teammates. Gary Ablett and Dion Prestia’s best football has come when Swallow was in the side and both have been below their best this season.

“Individuals play better when there are better players around because there is not the pressure on,’’ Eade said.

“They don’t have to do all the heavy lifting, they can just play their natural game.’’

Originally published as Eade finally has news that’s easy to Swallow