Carlton is leaving the door open for inspirational veteran Sam Docherty to make a remarkable return this year.
Docherty ruptured his right ACL in the opening round of his season, but 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealed there’s optimism at the Blues as to what could be possible this year.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Docherty in frame for shock return.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 
After two previous ACL tears to his left knee, the 30-year-old was initially expected to miss all of 2024.
But Docherty told 7NEWS a month in, it was the best a knee had felt in rehab yet.
He returned to non-contact training last week as his quick recovery ramps up.
“Everything would need to go right from here,” Cleary said.
It would be a recovery that mirrors Tyson Goldsack’s famous comeback in 2018.
The Collingwood defender ruptured his ACL in March and returned to play just 22 weeks later before featuring in all four of the Magpies’ four finals.
The first week of this year’s finals would be 26 weeks after Docherty’s injury, and his potential return would be a massive boost for the Blues.
Docherty has been a source of inspiration after overcoming cancer twice. He was first diagnosed in 2020, but was able to return to the field the following season after undergoing successful surgery.
He was hit with a second cancer diagnosis just nine months later, which lead to a 12-week chemotherapy course.
Docherty again recovered and remarkably barely missed a game before the shattering knee injury earlier this year.
Carlton are flying high in second place despite suffering back-to-back losses.
They take on North Melbourne this week as they look to cement their place in the top four.