IT'S NOT often you see match simulation and one-on-one contests dominate the program on day one of pre-season.
But that's what happened at Collingwood on Monday, with the Magpies declaring competiveness as their 2018 summer training mantra.
For the Pies, gone are the days of the footballs staying in the sheds until after Christmas, with the club identifying a need to set a high standard of physicality early.
High-flyer Jeremy Howe said on Monday the different approach was welcomed by the players, as the whole list resumed training for the first time.
Howe expecting Mark of the Year rule change
"This pre-season is all about competitiveness, one v one contests," Howe said.
"The training is as close to match simulation as possible, you'll see a lot of contested ball and tackling, the physicality has gone through the roof from day one.
"Everyone can run as many laps as you want around the outside, but the match 'sim' fitness, that's what everyone wants.
"We want to hit the ground running and it's good to see the young boys really setting the tone."
Howe said the younger Pies, who have been back training for two weeks, upstaged many of their older counterparts on Monday.
James Aish is dominating in time trials, Brayden Maynard has shed weight with an increased midfield role in mind, and Darcy Moore is making his teammates chase him.
That's not to say the rest of the list has become complacent. Howe said veteran midfielder Daniel Wells was well-placed to put together the sort of pre-season to help him play more than the 10 games he managed in 2017.
"He (Wells) is first-class with the way he goes about it on field; hopefully we can get more games into him this year," he said.
"We saw how important he is to us going forward, so to get a good pre-season under his belt, it will serve us well."
The Monday session was split so players came and went, with Wells leaving the track with his group early on.
Tyson Goldsack, Alex Fasolo and Jarryd Blair step out at training on Monday. Picture: collingwoodfc.com.au
Captain Scott Pendlebury took part, despite breaking a finger in last week's first International Rules Test against Ireland.
Howe said the injury wasn't expected to set the skipper back.
"Unless you hold him down and cuff him to a pole, that's about the only reason you'll keep 'Pendles' off the track," Howe said.
"Marking and tackling are pretty much the only things he can't do, but he wants to be out there keeping his fitness up.
"Everyone else marks and gives him the ball, so he'll be out there for the majority of the pre-season."
Jamie Elliott was the only notable absentee from Monday's hit-out, with the forward needing surgery on his troublesome ankle.
He's due back at the club next week, where he'll meet with the leadership group about a potential sanction for his recent arrest for public drunkenness.
