The prodigious South Australian talent was drafted by the Demons at pick No. 4 at last year's NAB AFL Draft, just months after having surgery on both hips.
In the lead up to the draft he told AFL.com.au he saw preparation on the training track as perhaps the most important aspect of his game, so to be restricted on arriving at the club was tough.
"What I was expecting of myself was way too much and I needed to appreciate where I was at with my body and in terms of my surgeries and my fitness," Toumpas revealed to melbournefc.com.au.
"When I got to the club on November 25, they pretty much said, 'Stop right here, you're going to be going very slowly'.
"It was early to mid-January when I did my first full session.
"That really sucked, because I hate being held back from things and being told to only do one session a week and do a swim."
While Toumpas' 14 games in 2013 failed to live up to his own expectations, his numbers still suggested a bright future.
The 19-year-old managed 12 disposals a match, with a season-high 22 against Adelaide in round 22.
He got better as the year went on and, discounting his substitute role against the Brisbane Lions in round 17, Toumpas averaged 17 touches a game in his last five outings.
With Toumpas' injury concerns behind him, new coach Paul Roos will find it tough trying to hold the 183cm midfielder back this summer.
"I'm looking forward to this pre-season … and hitting my peak fitness and really showing people that I can make it at this level," he said.
Season 2013 was a baptism of fire for Toumpas, as well Melbourne's other first-year players.
The club struggled to compete for much of the season and won just two games, a result that ultimately saw coach Mark Neeld shown the door.
But Toumpas hoped the negatives the young playing group experienced would eventually hold it in good stead.
"I know I've learned a lot from the year," he said.
"With 'Neeldy' going and the amount of losses we'd come across – that's what footy is and I know we'll be better for it in the future.
"Although I haven't performed as well as I'd liked, I've definitely grown from that and I don't think many 18- or 19-year-olds around the country would've gone through what me, Jack Viney and Dean Kent have gone through."
Twitter: @AFL_Harry
