Bonat suffered an horrific 30-centimetre gash in his leg in a work accident involving fencing equipment on May 2.

He underwent a Manipulation Under Anesthesia.

“They give you a nerve-blocker and put you to sleep in theatre and then they actually get your leg moving,” he said.

“I had that buildup of scar tissue that caused a lot of stiffness in the knee joint and that was what was holding me back.”

The operation has allowed more movement in Bonat’s left leg.

“The scar tissue was able to build around the knee and that obviously restricted any movement once the wound had healed,” he said.

“Obviously we’re trying to get back moving again and there was also the issue that once it hit the medial as well, everything was just a bit stiff and tight.”

Bonat had been restricted to upper body weights, but has just started bike riding.

He’s hoping to start running as soon as possible, but admits he can’t guarantee he will play again this year, given the unusual nature of the injury.

“I’ve been hoping all the way along that it was going to be pretty quick, but I’ve just got to be patient,” he said.

“I am starting to see more movement and less pain.”

Bonat shared last year’s Morris Medal with Wodonga ruckman Matt Seiter.

The Bulldogs’ big man was found not guilty at the tribunal on Wednesday night.

Seiter was charged with striking Wodonga Raiders’ Tom McCaffrey in the final quarter.

The Bulldogs trailed by eight points at the time and ended up falling by 28.

And in other tribunal news, Wangaratta Rovers’ under 18 player Cameron Nolan was recently suspended for six weeks after he was found guilty of unbecoming conduct against Myrtleford’s Jack Clancy following an investigation.