The Pies claimed the 2010 premiership just under six weeks ago and were back as a group for the first time on Friday.
The playing group and football staff will leave for its annual camp at high altitude on Sunday, and they blew out the cobwebs with a two-kilometre time trial at Olympic Park followed by a skills session at Gosch's Paddock.
New Irish international recruit Paul Cribbin upstaged usual time trial specialist Steele Sidebottom, the pair leading home the squad with Scott Pendlebury an impressive third.
Leon Davis was another to perform well.
Skipper Nick Maxwell said Tarrant's effort showed just how seriously he was taking his return to the Westpac Centre.
"He looks super fit. I haven't seen him run a time trial like he ran then, going back sort of four or five years when he was here," Maxwell said.
"I've been coming in a fair bit over the last two or three weeks and he's been in here every day training.
"So he's just been super impressive and we're just looking forward to having him back and seeing how he goes about it in the pre-season."
The Pies remain unclear whether another of their trade week acquisitions, Andrew Krakouer, will be able to head to the US, with his visa application still pending.
Maxwell said the club was hopeful but regardless of the outcome, the new recruit had also impressed in his initial days as a Magpie.
"You speak to all the coaches and they just say they've been blown away by how committed he is to his footy [and] how much extra work he's doing," he said.
"We really hope that he can come across to Arizona ... if we can get him there it'd be great for him to bond with the group."
The off-season turnover at Collingwood will see 11 changes to the senior list in 2011, with the departure of several experienced names.
Next season Tarrant, who will turn 31 in September, will be the oldest player on the Pies' list.
But Maxwell believes his side won't lose much in the way of depth, and will gain most improvement from its younger stocks.
"The thing about older guys [is] once you get to 24 to 30, you can only probably improve 5 per cent at an absolute max, but with young guys they can improve 20, 30, 40 per cent just over a pre-season and actually get an opportunity," he said.
The skipper has enjoyed his team's premiership win but says he and his teammates will again take a moment next month to savour the victory.
But he doubts there will be any premiership hangover.
"Having seen the guys today and how they've come back I know that won't be the case," he said.
"I think we've only got eight guys who've played eight years or more, so it's just such a young group.
"Those guys are going to be even better with another pre-season under their belt."
