Ramanauskas regaining football form

Having inspired his club and the rest of the AFL with his bravery away from the game, Adam Ramanauskas looks to be back as a player.

The defender had 24 possessions and kicked a goal in the Bombers' 55-point win over North Melbourne.

It was one of the premiership player's best games for the last few years, a period when far more fundamental issues preyed on his mind.

Ramanauskas was first diagnosed with a tumour in his neck and shoulder area in 2003 and has since been through some serious health setbacks as he battled cancer.

He slowly regained his health through last year and managed five senior games.

New senior coach Matthew Knights, who had been an assistant coach at Essendon for the previous two years, became emotional post-match as he spoke about Ramanauskas's status at Windy Hill.

"Adam, spiritually, is enormous - I spent nine days with him in Japan when he could only walk around, this was only about 12-14 months ago," Knights said.

"To see him come back and to be able to go with players and give a springboard for attack, what do you say? It's an amazing story, he's an amazing person."

Knights knew through the pre-season that Ramanauskas was building towards full football fitness.

Today, he was among Essendon's best as the Bombers unleashed a new-look running game.

"We ran about a 110-minute training session in one of our really strong weeks (in the pre-season)," Knights said.

"He ran out (that) training session and he wouldn't have blown out a candle, I knew then that we were going to have a player who could make an impact.

"The other thing I noticed in (his) first NAB Cup game, he was able to spring in the air.

"He showed me he has his spring and speed back, which is a big part of his game - he will be very good for our club this year."</p>