FREMANTLE ruckman Aaron Sandilands returned to pre-season training on Monday with a clean injury slate after eight weeks spent strengthening his troubled feet.

The three-time All Australian has been struck down by a reoccurring toe injury for the last two years, but he said he would enter 2013 "100 per cent confident" that both feet would hold up in his 12th season.

Sandilands, who turns 30 on Thursday, didn't undergo any surgery in the off-season and said a solid running program had him well placed to complete his best pre-season in years.

"It's the first time I've had a really good break in the off-season and been able to do a fair amount of running," he said on Monday. 

"Having no injuries over the break I've been able to keep the running loads up and the body's feeling really good at the moment.

"It was a good chance over the break to get a fair bit of strength in my feet, so I've been doing that sort of work.

"Hopefully we just keep up what we're doing at the moment and that should put it in good stead come the start of the season.

"Both feet are back to normal and I'm 100 per cent confident in both of them."

Sandilands missed 10 games mid-season in 2012, returning in round 21 to average 36 hit-outs in his last five games, including two finals.

After an extended break, he will have a modified training program, taking part in the team's Monday and Friday sessions but training remotely with fellow veterans Matthew Pavlich and Luke McPharlin on Wednesdays.

The new father and wife Jenny will also be adjusting to life with baby daughter Sloane Ellie, who was born last week. 

"Fatherhood's amazing at the moment. I'm thoroughly enjoying it and mum and bub are both going very well," Sandilands said. 

"I'm used to sleeping about 12 hours a day, but bub's waking up every three to four hours … it's a learning curve for me."

Also training on Monday morning at Fremantle Oval were draft hopefuls Cameron Symonds and Alex Howson (East Fremantle), Callum Sinclair (Subiaco), Nick Rodda (West Perth) and Matthew Tabener (Murray Bushrangers).

The key position players are aiming to impress ahead of the NAB AFL Rookie Draft to be held on December 11 where Fremantle is expected to address a lack of developing tall talent on its list. 

Nathan Schmook is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan