Daniel Wells Biography

Daniel Wells announces his retirement after 258 games with North Melbourne and Collingwood over 17 seasons.

"I thank Collingwood, I thank North Melbourne and I thank the game," Wells said.

"All of them have given me so much. The joy of playing, the great camaraderie, support in the tough times and care for me and my family.

"I couldn't have asked for much more. I will miss football and I will always love it."

Nathan Buckley says Daniel Wells' latest knee injury could well spell the end of his senior career.

"To be injured that significantly is tragic for him," Buckley told SEN radio.

"He has had a long career. It's very challenging to consider someone as talented as him is potentially not going to get back."

Wells has played only 15 AFL games for the Magpies in the past three seasons, beset by calf, thigh and foot problems since crossing from North Melbourne.

"We knew that he had injury troubles, but we thought that we could manage him and get him up often enough," Buckley said.

"We haven't had the return that we hoped for and he would've hoped for."

Daniel Wells is expected to be sidelined for up to three months with a left knee injury.

Wells landed heavily on the knee during the Pies' narrow win over Sydney at the SCG, damaging both the posterior and medial ligaments.

Amid fears he had sustained a career-ending injury, the 34-year-old consulted renowned orthopaedic surgeon Julian Feller, after which it was decided Wells would forego surgery in the hope of making a late-season return.

The Magpies said Wells' knee would be placed in a brace for some weeks before making gradual return to strength and conditioning work.

"Surgery was an option but this course firstly allows Daniel to make a full recovery and, secondly, keeps alive the possibility of a return to playing in 2019," Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh said.

"The recovery has to be strong and a priority, which it will be, but Daniel has the prospect of playing again to aim for."

Daniel Wells will meet his knee surgeon in an attempt to learn whether he can play again in 2019.

Wells, 34, suffered damage to his left posterior cruciate ligament in the Pies' seven-point win over Sydney.

Now into the final season of a three-year contract, Wells' career would be left hanging in the balance should he require surgery.

Daniel Wells is set for an extended period on the sidelines after scans revealed he requires surgery on a foot injury sustained during Collingwood's Queen's Birthday clash against Melbourne.

"It is reasonable to expect that it is a long-term injury," Collingwood football boss Geoff Walsh said.

"Clearly, it's a bitter pill for Daniel to swallow. He had spent a lot of time getting into strong physical shape and, back in the team, he was working his way into the season."

Daniel Wells makes a successful, if uninspiring, return to football through the VFL at the Holden Centre, not helped by the weather conditions.

The 33-year-old had played only in a VFL practice match this year, on March 23, having struggled with hamstring and Achilles injuries.

Daniel Wells does not feel he owes the Magpies after making an injury interrupted start to his career at his new club.

The 32-year-old has battled calf injuries in his first season with the Pies after crossing from North Melbourne and has managed just seven games.

"I don't know about owing the club," Wells said.

"That is just the way things happen. You could come out and have a ripper season and everyone is happy but injuries happen and are part and parcel of the game."

Daniel Wells is at least a month away from returning to Collingwood’s lineup as he recovers from a calf injury.

"It happens when you get towards the end of your career," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

"You can’t trust (your body) as much as you used to in the past."

Daniel Wells admits he was not in peak physical condition when he arrived at the Magpies, largely due to not being able to train while on off-season trips overseas.

"I had a couple of trips overseas and probably didn't have the opportunity to do much training and I was a bit sore coming back from finishing off that season," Wells told Fox Footy.

"But there's no excuse. Every player needs to come back in good shape but I suppose that's what the pre-season is for as well.

"I came back and worked really hard to get back into good shape and it doesn't take me long, so I was always pretty confident."

Daniel Wells is set to make his debut for Collingwood in Tuesday's Anzac Day meeting with Essendon as the Pies look for an injection of class.

"He's a class player and he's got a lot of experience, and he's a very good user of the footy. He's great around stoppages and great with that forward half use," Buckley said.

"It just happens to be the area we're falling down in particular at the moment. Daniel isn't going to solve all of those ills and we're doing a lot of work on it, but he won't hurt us either.

"We're looking forward to him coming in and doing what he does, but at the same time we don't expect him to be the saviour in that regard."

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has all but confirmed marquee recruit Daniel Wells will not be fit for round one.

Wells, 32, has been troubled by an ongoing calf injury over the pre-season and is yet to appear in any JLT Community Series games.

"We're making the right calls for all our players, and part of the right call for Daniel would be to make sure that he's ready to go when we pull the trigger on him," Buckley told Fox Sports.

"It might not be in those early couple of rounds but when you see him he'll be ready."

Nick Dal Santo says former teammate Daniel Wells would be a better player if worked harder on the training track.

"There's no secret he (Wells) could train harder, and probably more consistently. That will give him a better opportunity to play a majority of the games throughout the year," Dal Santo said.

"I recently heard Nathan Buckley say he'd be happy with 15 games – that surprised me, to say that we're happy with our new recruit, one of the best players in the League when he's fit, to be happy with 15 games. That means he's sitting out for seven in the regular season. That shocked me.

"I'd like to see him play the majority and if he needs to have a rest, one or two games, I can understand that."

Daniel Wells is racing the clock to be fit for round one as he attempts to shake off a lingering calf injury.

Wells failed to train with teammates out on the track at Olympic Park Oval and went for a scan.

"It's just a precautionary check-up on the body. Nothing in it really," Wells said.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley sets a target of 15 games a year for Daniel Wells.

"He's a mature player, so he's got an understanding of what his body needs and where it's at. We'll make the right calls for him as he goes along. We want him to play as many games as he possibly can," Buckley said.

"If we get 15 or 16 games out of Daniel Wells every year for the next three years, that would be a massive success for us.

"In particular, we want him up and going at the pointy end of the year. That's clearly what our focus is around."

Daniel Wells joins Collingwood as an unrestricted free agent after accepting a three-year deal believed to be worth about $1.8 million.

In return, North Melbourne will receive a second-round pick, currently No.32, as compensation.

Wells leaves Arden St with a heavy heart after knocking back a two-year offer from the Roos, within the vicinity of $1.1 million.

"I enjoyed a wonderful time as a North Melbourne player and now I get the opportunity to play for Collingwood, a club I have always admired," Wells said in a statement released by the Pies.

"I have to thank my two football families; North for the opportunity to play and the care they showed to me over the years, and Collingwood for the chance to take my career into a new and exciting phase.

"It will be a little strange, at first, calling myself a Magpie but I’m feeling very comfortable with it already and I couldn’t be more excited about a future in black and white."

Daniel Wells tells North Melbourne that he will leave the club as an unrestricted free agent.

Collingwood has reportedly offered Wells a three-year contract worth up to $1.8 million.

"We're obviously disappointed to be losing someone of Daniel's calibre but we respect his decision," Roos football manager Cameron Joyce said.

"Daniel has been an outstanding player and person and we wish him all the best.

"We have benefitted from free agency over the past few seasons and fully respect the system."

Retired Collingwood great Dane Swan admits he was caught off guard by the Magpies going after North Melbourne veteran Daniel Wells.

"I was surprised like everyone else, I thought we were going to go down the youth path," Swan said.

"He has great speed and skill and that's something we're lacking.

"The question you have to ask is, 'Is Wells in our next premiership side?'

"I certainly hope he is, because that means we're going to win one in the next couple of years."

North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw says the club will be disappointed if Daniel Wells leaves the club, given how the midfielder was well looked after through his past injury woes.

Wells' future at Arden Street remains clouded after North's season ended with a humbling 62-point defeat against Adelaide in last Saturday night's first elimination final.

"I know 'Wellsy' has had the same offer in front of him for a long time. I don't know what's holding that up, he's obviously having a look around otherwise he would have signed it," Brayshaw told Triple M radio.

"It would be disappointing to lose him. Firstly because I love him, always have. But secondly for the last three years he's been unbelievably well remunerated and played about four per cent of the games, so you'd hope that 'Pickers' (Wells' manager Liam Pickering) would keep that in mind."

North Melbourne has upped the ante in its bid to retain Daniel Wells submitting an improved offer that could see the star midfielder earn up to $1.1 million over the next two seasons.

North has been in negotiations with the unrestricted free agent for several months, but has been unable to secure his signature ahead of the finals.

Daniel Wells' future remains up in the air as the free agent's contract talks with North Melbourne continue to drag on.

North is hopeful Wells will eventually accept the offer it has on the table, believed to be a one-year deal with a games-based trigger for a second year.

Wells is understood to have earned about $550,000 a season under his existing three-year deal and, like most players entering the latter stages of their careers, the 31-year-old is being asked to take a pay cut.

Daniel Wells says he wants to play on in 2017.

"I have just got to continue playing some good footy and (hope) the club sees fit that they want to hold on to me," Wells said.

"The way preparation is now and how professional it is, blokes are playing a bit longer so, hopefully."

Daniel Wells experiences soreness in the Achilles tendon that ruined his 2015 season and will be made to sit out at least a match or two.

"His Achilles is just not quite perfect, so I think you can all imagine how cautious we're going to be with that," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said.

"We're really optimistic and we're being potentially overly cautious and probably frustrating 'Wellsy' a little bit because he's missed so much footy, but we're determined not to turn this into something that could be more serious."

Daniel Wells overcomes a cork injury to play an important role in the Kangaroos' seven-point win over St Kilda.

"[The doctors] weren't keen to put him back on but they did say, 'If push comes to shove and you need him then let us know,'" North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said after the match.

"Push came to shove and I said, 'Now would be a good time'.

"I had probably moved on – that sounds callous I know. But I'd made the decision that we've got the three on the bench and we'll have to go with them."

Wells laid two important smothers in the final term and won a crucial ball in dispute at half-back as the Saints came charging home.

Jamie Macmillan says Kangaroos teammate Daniel Wells is poised to return to his best form after overcoming a torrid run with injuries.

"Absolutely, I reckon (he'll get back to) his best and better," Macmillan said.

"They always say when guys miss a bit of footy it sometimes benefits them later on.

"He's had effectively two years off and he's cherry-ripe to go, his passion for the game is still there, so he really wants to improve and especially with the other forwards down there, he's got a good bond with them.

"I think you'll see good things from Wellsy this year."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says Daniel Wells' career could be extended by his wretched recent injury run just as Alastair Lynch's was a decade ago.

"I don't think he's ever lost the hunger (to play). He's been incredibly frustrated with his body not allowing him to do what he knows he can," Scott said.

"But, certainly, physically if he can get the ailments right then the rest of his body is no doubt going to benefit from [his time on the sidelines].

"Go way, way back to Alastair Lynch. The years he lost in the middle of his career he basically got back at the end.

"We'd love that to be the case with 'Wellsy'."

Daniel Wells has suffered another injury setback in his bid to return for North's finals campaign.

Wells limped off the ground during the third quarter of North Ballarat's win over Coburg before having ice strapped to the back of his lower left leg and sitting out the rest of the match.

Daniel Wells says it's too early to tell when he might return for North Melbourne following his long-awaited comeback from a lingering Achilles problem in the VFL.

In his first appearance since round two, the classy midfielder collected 14 disposals in just over a quarter of game time to help North Ballarat to a come-from-behind eight-point triumph over Collingwood at Victoria Park.

"The fitness is obviously going to be very tough, but the Achilles wasn't too bad," Wells said.

"Probably the longer it went on the better it was. I was a bit nervous and anxious about it, but I was just happy that it actually felt all right.

"The knee's a bit of a bummer, but I don't think it's that bad at all. I was more worried about the Achilles and I felt like I was able to use some speed out there."

Daniel Wells will make a shock comeback in the VFL this weekend.

Wells, who hasn't played at any level since round two, has been battling an Achilles problem for most of the year.

But in a bid to prove his fitness ahead of the finals, the 30-year-old has been given the all clear to play in the North Ballarat side to face Collingwood on Saturday.

"It's a bit of a surprise to us too but to get him in this week is a big bonus for us," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

"He's really excited and wants to play. It's been frustrat

Daniel Wells has hit back at critics who have questioned his ability to play through injury, dismissing such judgments as completely baseless.

"You don't worry about it too much. I'm a lot older now, you understand that people obviously need to say things just to say things sometimes, and (with) a lot of those things there's not much weight behind it," Wells said.

"If you worry about it too much you almost give them a bit of satisfaction on these issues.

"I actually know exactly where it's at. My coaches and teammates know where it's at and (so does) my family, and that's pretty much where it ends."

In 2009 he battled through a severe case of osteitis pubis that surgeons later said was one of the worst they had seen.

Wells said the lack of support he received from North through that latter injury contributed to the perception he couldn't play through pain.

"I copped a bit of media flak over that, even the coaches were probably being fed the information that wasn't exactly true," he said.

"Everyone was getting frustrated. Even 'Laids' (then coach Dean Laidley) felt a bit of the pressure because he asked me how I was going.

"I was pretty honest. I said, 'It's bloody sore mate, I can't even run with it.

"That's something that probably didn't help me (or) my persona as a young kid. I didn't think I got supported greatly by the club in that instance.

"Obviously the club can really set you up and let people know that this is what this young fella is going through.

"They sort of realised later on after I ended up having surgery later that year the extent of how bad it was."

Daniel Wells has had surgery on his troublesome Achilles tendon but North Melbourne is hopeful the star midfielder remains on track to return before the end of the home and away season.

"Daniel had a minor procedure around his Achilles this morning, more so to fast-track the recovery process," North football director Geoff Walsh said.

"He's been working pretty hard and we've had some good advancement but then that advancement has been coupled with a couple of days of stagnation in terms of the progress.

"So it's been frustrating for him and frustrating for us.

"The latest advice was a minor procedure around the Achilles would probably alleviate the pain in particular that he's been suffering and hopefully get the progress that we both want."

North Melbourne remains confident Daniel Wells will return from injury before the end of the season and has refuted suggestions that some club insiders are frustrated by the star midfielder's reluctance to step up his rehabilitation program.

Wells has not played since round two because of lingering Achilles tendon soreness and continues to train away from North's main training group.

"We're pretty confident you'll see Daniel Wells run around in a North Melbourne jumper before the end of the year, and when we do we'll all be licking our lips because he's such a valuable player to us," Kangaroos interim coach Darren Crocker said.

"We know where things are at, we know that he's battling this injury, that he's working hard to try to get it right (and) the medicos are working hard to get it right.

"He's doing everything he can, our medicos are doing everything they can and we're really confident that when he recovers from this injury he'll be ready to go."

Jamie Macmillan is promoted to North Melbourne's leadership group, replacing Daniel Wells who has stepped down.

Andrew Swallow will continue as captain, with Drew Petrie, Jack Ziebell, Nick Dal Santo, Scott Thompson and Sam Gibson set to resume their official leadership roles.

"Primarily what we're trying to build here, like every club, is a really broad range of leaders," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

"We really feel that to give our emerging leaders a chance to come through we need to have succession plan in place."

Daniel Wells steps down from North Melbourne's leadership group for 2015.

"Wellsy will step down and focus on his footy," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

"He will obviously still be a very good leader for us, but won't be an official member of the leadership group."

Daniel Wells accepted a one-match suspension by the Match Review Panel.

Wells was charged with two offences, both involving Western Bulldogs midfielder Shaun Higgins.

He was first cited for striking Higgins during the third quarter of Sunday's game at Etihad Stadium.

Thanks to Wells' good record, he could have escaped with a reprimand and 70 carryover points for that offence.

But he was also cited for a rough conduct offence against Higgins, which occurred in the final quarter.

Daniel Wells gathers 18 disposals in his return to AFL football, after recovering from a foot injury during the Kangaroos' 50-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

"It went pretty well today. It's (his foot) a bit sore now but that's to be expected," Wells said after the match.

"I felt comfortable out there. It's been a long time since I played and I'm just happy to have played some kind of part today."

Daniel Wells is expected to play up to three quarters in his VFL comeback this weekend, with North Melbourne to monitor his recovery before rushing him into the senior side.

"We want 'Wellsy' back playing at his best and while his training form has been outstanding, the problem is the match simulation stuff at training goes for about 20 minutes," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

"So we're not confident that we're going to get that for 120 minutes. A game in the VFL is the prudent thing to do, as much as it is tempting to bring him straight back."

Daniel Wells is happy to play football again after recovering from the Lisfranc injury to his right foot that has kept him on the sidelines since round five.

"It's been so long. Just to actually train with the boys over the last couple of weeks has been good," Wells said.

"Now I'm trying to step it up to play a game, whether it's VFL (or) AFL I'll leave that up to the coaches."

Daniel Wells believes he is on track to return to the North Melbourne line-up before the end of the home and away season.

Wells' specialist cleared him during the week to take his rehabilitation to the next phase and increase his running intensity.

"I think so, depending on what shape I'm in, what condition and also what touch (I have), it's going to take a couple of weeks to find that out," Wells said about returning to football soon.

"At this stage it looks like I should be able to return this year."

Daniel Wells is still up to three weeks away from playing as his recovery from a foot injury continues to be slower than expected.

Wells has not played since North's round five match against Collingwood after injuring his right foot in the lead-up to that game when teammate Drew Petrie accidentally trod on it at training.

Daniel Wells will miss at least another month with a persistent foot injury after attempts to advance his training fell short last week.

"The past couple of weeks we've tried to manage that with his training load and be really guided by the symptoms of his pain," Kangaroos football manager Geoff Walsh said.

"Our physio and rehab team tried to step that up last week and pour some more running into him and he didn't react well to that.

"Since that, further subsequent investigation shows the ligament in the foot hasn't really responded to the rest or the treatment like we would have hoped.

"We're going to pull back from the running for a couple of weeks so that will probably mean I would say three-to-four weeks on the sidelines as of today, which is disappointing but we think the best way to respond to it."

A mysterious foot injury could keep Daniel Wells sidelined as North Melbourne embarks on a crucial month for its hopes of returning to finals football.

"I have to speak to the doctors. We've got a meeting on Monday, but we've got some more information around what's ailing him at the moment," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

"But he's still a bit sore, so look, he's a chance but he's not a certainty. But hopefully we'll be able to give you some more information as to how long he'll be early next week."

Daniel Wells will miss a week of football after his foot was accidentally stomped on at training.

Daniel Wells is named as captain of Australia in the International Rules Series against Ireland with recently retired Demon Aaron Davey to serve as his vice-captain.

Daniel Wells says he is excited to be part of just the second all-indigenous touring party in Australian history.

"To have this in the latter part of my career, to go overseas as part of an all-indigenous side is something I won't forget," Wells said.

"Obviously with all the boys being indigenous it's a different vibe (to past International Rules Series).

"To play as the All-Stars, that's another good feeling, but to represent your country and to do it with an all-indigenous team is something special."

Daniel Wells and Scott Thompson share the Syd Barker Medal after tying in North Melbourne's best and fairest count for 2013.

Wells and Thompson both notched 50 votes, one vote clear of ruckman Todd Goldstein with vice-captain Drew Petrie fourth, three votes further back.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott lauds the efforts of Daniel Wells who has been in spectacular form over the last month.

"The thing is there are very few players in the competition who can do what [Wells] does," Scott said after Wells accumulated 27 possessions, four clearances, three inside 50s, two score assists and a goal in a narrow loss to ladder-leader Hawthorn.

"But I think that he would be the first to acknowledge that he is getting great support. People who perhaps don't analyse footy well enough have said in the past, 'he doesn't do it often enough, he should do it all the time.'

"Well when … he's the one who's got to break the game open, the opposition are going to put a lot of time into (stopping) him."

North Melbourne players Majak Daw, Lindsay Thomas and Daniel Wells are reported to have been racially abused by a Hawthorn supporter during a match at the MCG.

"We would encourage any stadium patron to phone or text in to the advertised number and immediately report any anti-social or nuisance behaviour so the matter can be managed by the ground security, and the club if required," Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox said.

"Racial vilification at the football in any form is offensive and totally unacceptable – not just to the target of the vilification but also to all players and supporters."

Daniel Wells declares himself fit and ready for round one after playing three practice matches during the pre-season.

It caught me (by surprise) a little bit playing three games. Prior to that I wasn't going to play the first one at least, but it (the injury) recovered really quickly," Wells said.

"I've been feeling pretty good through the three games I've played, had a bit of a freshen-up last week and I'm ready to go.

"Now I find myself ready for round one - no problems at all. I'm still able to twist and turn like I did last year, which is important to my game."

Daniel Wells become a free agent at the end of 2013 but says he wants to remain a Kangaroo for life.

"I would love to see out my career with them. Hopefully I still have plenty of years, so I will just get out on the park and play good footy, and that will take care of itself," Wells said.

"I have got a lot of time for the Kangaroos. We have been through some tough times but we are a really good team and it's exciting to be part of and I want to help the young ones out."

North Melbourne expect Daniel Wells to have some playing time in the NAB Cup.

"He's had a chronic tendinopathy and those things can take a little bit of time," North medical services director Steve Saunders said.

"We are really happy now that he's doing high-end agility and dynamic work and training with the team. We are happy with the volume he's getting done, so he's tracking well."

North Melbourne star Daniel Wells faces another restricted pre-season, with calf and Achilles niggles hampering his output.

"He was never going to join in full training until after Christmas and we're graduating his program through and we anticipate he'll be fine to go for the start of the year," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

"He's got a really good fitness base behind him but we won't take any risks with him."

North Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells endured three sleepless nights due to severe tooth pain ahead of Sunday's clash against Geelong but still finished with 31 disposals in a stunning win to the Kangaroos.

"He's had a bit of trouble with his teeth, he's been in a bit of pain, but it just shows the resilience he's got, especially after the injury-interrupted pre-season," Kangaroos captain Andrew Swallow said.

"It's great to see him continue to play some good footy. He's had a lot of doubters over the years, but he's finally starting to show that he can play well, especially against the best teams."

Reigning club champion Daniel Wells remains on track to return in North Melbourne's season opener.

We've been really confident in [Wells'] preparation in terms of the running and the strength work he's been doing in the gym," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

"He should be right to go from now and hitting round one in good shape."

North Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells could play as soon as this Sunday in the NAB Cup after being taken off blood thinning medication.

"I've had a pretty unique pre-season but now things are starting to get back to normal," Wells said.

"I got the news from the club that there might be a chance that I could come off the medication earlier than we expected.

"I had some blood tests and it was decided that I could stop taking the blood thinners and begin contact training, which was great."

North Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells is still a fair way off returning from life-threatening blood clots.

"He has been progressing really well. He has done all the fitness and conditioning work - all the running - and he's back into leg weights and core work," North Melbourne medical services director Steve Saunders said.

"His shoulder and upper body work is still modified because of [the] surgery, but until he's off the blood thinners we won't run the risk of any contact at all."

Daniel Wells and Andrew Swallow share first place in North Melbourne's best and fairest count for the Syd Barker Medal.

Daniel Wells expresses his gratitude to those who kept their faith in him after winning North Melbourne's best and fairest award.

"I've copped a lot of criticism since I came to this great club, probably rightly so in the early days. But this club has supported me like no other. They have given me every opportunity to be the player I want to be," Wells said.

"I want to thank all the people who have believed in me.''

Daniel Wells faced near death from blood clots following post season surgery but is making a full recovery.

"The way (the clots were) building up in my lungs, they were blocking off some of the main arteries," Wells said.

"(My doctor) said it could have got a lot worse and a bit of the lungs have actually died from what happened. So if we'd kept it a bit longer … the doctors were saying it was going to be fatal."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says he and the club feared for Daniel Wells' life when blood clots were discovered on his lungs.

"We were not only concerned for his footy, that became a secondary concern, this was a life-threatening thing and time was of the essence," Scott said.

He went in, had the scans, he will be on a blood-thinning drug for the next six months where he can't have any contact whatsoever."

North midfielder Daniel Wells will undergo weekly tests for the next six months after almost losing his life to blood clots following a recent shoulder surgery.

"His shortness of breath has settled down and he is on blood-thinners," North Melbourne doctor Don Bates said.

"In hospital he was put on a short, fast acting blood-thinner but now he is on the longer acting blood-thinner which he'll stay on for the next six months. He will need ongoing regular blood tests which will become weekly in the near future."

Ben Cunnington says he has developed a rapport with the more senior Daniel Wells at the Kangaroos.

"The times when I'm struggling, he's always the first there to help me out and say, 'Head up'," Cunnington said.

"Around stoppages, I would go to block for him and he would say, 'No, no you go for it'. And if I miss it, straight away he's there going, 'Don't worry about it, get the next one'. If I get it he'll come over when the ball's forward and pat me on the [bum]. Little things like that might not seem much but it's really helping."

North Melbourne's Daniel Wells says he almost quit the club over summer to join West Coast.

"It was close, I'm not going to lie to you," Wells told the Herald Sun.

"I was glad it got that close because it did make me realise how much the club meant to me and how much I wanted to be here. I know for sure I made the right decision."

"I had to explore those options, put your toe in the water a little bit. But it was a bit too cold for me so I came back."

North Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells says he is certain his decision to re-sign with the club for another three years is the right one.

"When I decided that I wanted to stay, I was that excited that I rang my manager up. I was sure in myself where I wanted to be - same as my wife and my daughter, who are both Victorian," Wells said.

"Guys speak about being life members [of their clubs] and in a couple of years' time it's going to be me, if all goes well. I'm really looking forward to that."

Daniel Wells is recovering well from osteitis pubis according to club doctor Con Mitropoulos.

"[He's] doing extremely well with his groins and is on schedule for a game or two before round one," Mitropoulos said.

North Melbourne has praised the steady progress of Daniel Wells, but will be cautious in his rehabilitation after groin surgery.

"It was always going to be a fairly lengthy recovery period because of the surgery, but to his credit he has come through really well. He is building up his running now, which is really positive," North Melbourne football operations manager Donald McDonald said.

"We don't want to put a date on when we think he will play. (But) he will be right by the start of the season."

North Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells has started running again after undergoing groin surgery at season's end.

Wells will enter 2010 on a strictly modified program and sit out the NAB Cup.

"It's a good step, a positive step," he said.

"It's been frustrating but with the injury I had last year and the season I had, I'm pretty keen to get it right.

"I'm not rushing it too much. The boys are training super hard so I know I've got a lot of work to do."

North Melbourne's Daniel Wells will not play again this year after succumbing to osteitis pubis.

"There are only two games to go but thinking about it, I tried really hard to get back and play but it wasn't to be," Wells said.

"It's very frustrating to do all the work and not get rewarded for it but I left no stone unturned. That way, I've got less pressure on myself. I know I've tried everything I could and didn't come up trumps."

North Melbourne caretaker coach Darren Crocker says Daniel Wells will make his return from injury playing for North Ballarat this weekend.

"He'll play in the VFL and that is a really positive sign. His last two weeks of training have been very good. We know that he's starting to get back to where [he] wants to get back to," Crocker said.

"He'll play around 70 per cent [of game time] in the VFL and hopefully really start to push for senior selection in the next couple of weeks."

Daniel Wells has had stitches in his leg after an accident at the club on Monday, adding to the frustration of his groin injury.

Wells cut himself on a piece of gym equipment and has been advised by North's medical staff to keep the leg iced and elevated for two days to help the five-centimetre wound heal and will not be able to run for a fortnight.

"I wasn't too far away from actually coming back. "Now it puts me back a couple of extra weeks, which is unfortunate," Wells said.

"It's going to take a little while so I've got to make sure I don't keep re-splitting it, which is a possibility because the skin's so thin."

North Melbourne dynamo Daniel Wells faces more time on the sidelines with a groin injury, according to coach Darren Crocker.

"We just want to make sure that when we bring Daniel back, he is 100 per cent ready to go," Crocker said.

"I had a good chat to him and said: 'mate, I really want you to be 100 per cent when you come back. I don't want to rush it and have you play two or three games and then we are in the same situation'."

Daniel Wells says more players are making their debut with North now it is staying in Melbourne.

"We've always drafted ready-made players and have never really been in this position," Wells said.

"'Bottomed out' isn't the right term but we have started getting the young kids in and blooding them so we can plan for the future.

"We've always lived on the edge as a club, financially and footy-wise to some extent. Because we know we're going to be in Melbourne for good now - with the new facility coming up - I think it gives the club a bit more confidence to start playing these kids."

North Melbourne speedster Daniel Wells is looking forward to playing his part in the AFL's Indigenous Round.

"I suppose we're always encouraging each other to just keep doing well," Wells said.

"There's not many of us in the competition.

"Looking at the numbers today I guess there are a lot of us, but it's just a bond we have and it's something we share together."

A switch to defence for Daniel Wells paid off in North Melbourne's win over Port Adelaide.

"I'd played there a couple of times before and enjoyed it and it worked out well again," Wells said about North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley's decision to move him into defence.

"He said he was thinking about playing me at half-back and just trying to use my skills and decision-making to give our forwards or midfielders some good chances."

Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley has asked fans not to expect too much from Daniel Wells in his first week back from injury.

"He's ready to go," Laidley said.

"But we've got to be mindful that he's been out for three weeks. He won't be able to play his full quota of time but we think he'll value-add to our side."

Kangaroos midfielder Daniel Wells' hip injury ensures he will face an undetermined wait on the sidelines.

Scans reveal Wells has been carrying the injury for several weeks, but coach Dean Laidley was not using that as an excuse for Wells' unsatisfactory form.

"Once you go across the line and you've flagged yourself as being fit there's no excuses," Laidley said.

North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley has voiced his frustration about two of his under-performing stars: Daniel Wells and Corey Jones.

North Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells is conscious of public scrutiny after a below par start to the season.

"It's not good enough," Wells said. "I need to be a lot more consistent. It's been the word of my career so far. It's getting a bit boring."

Enigmatic Kangaroo Daniel Wells admits he has thrown away at least two years at the top as the focus again falls on his form.

DANIEL Wells has promised to repay North Melbourne's long-held faith in him this season by finding the on-field consistency that has eluded him.

Dean Laidley apologises for criticising umpires officiating in the Kangaroos' loss to Hawthorn after claiming that they had made inappropriate comments and gestures to his players and was planning to complain to AFL chief Andrew Demetriou about the matter.

Laidley says that changed his mind about the claim after football manager Donald McDonald reviewed audio of the match with AFL director of umpiring Jeff Gieschen and found nothing to substantiate the allegations.

"I was wrong to make any public statement about the umpiring in the match and accept that any concerns should have been directed to Jeff Gieschen through the normal channels," Laidley said in a statement.

"To Todd Keating, Martin Ellis, and Matthew Head, I unreservedly apologise for any inference caused by my inappropriate statements.

"I will make contact with Jeff Gieschen over the next 24-48 hours so that I arrange to speak directly to the umpires concerned."