MELBOURNE recruit Kade Kolodjashnij has wasted little time trying to impress his new teammates with a strong performance to finish third in the Demons' 2km time trial on Monday.

The time trial was won by perennial pacesetter Alex Neal-Bullen, who ran an unofficial time of 6min 22secs in hot conditions at Gosch's Paddock.

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Defender Joel Smith ran over the top of Kolodjashnij in the last 70m to pinch second place after the former Sun took the lead early in the race.

Neal-Bullen is renowned as one of Melbourne's best endurance runners and motored home in the last lap to claim victory in his pet event.

Kolodjashnij set the tempo early as he looked to take it to the field in the opening couple of laps and looked comfortable out in front in his new colours.

The former Sun is hoping for a change of luck after an injury-plagued last two seasons at Gold Coast due to head-knock issues.

Kolodjashnij, pick No.5 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, was part of the deal that saw Melbourne give up pick No.6 in this year's draft to land Steven May and has his sights on immediately joining Melbourne's best 22.

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He looks to play on the wing and as a high half-back in 2019.

"I want to be straight in there. I want to earn the respect over the pre-season, train hard and hopefully slot straight in there for round one and go from there," Kolodjashnij said.

Kade Kolodjashnij leads Alex Neal-Bullen during the Demons' 2km time trial. Picture: Getty Images

The 23-year-old, twin of Geelong's Jake, found out in the middle of last season that the issues he had been dealing with were neck related and not the result of repeat concussions.

Kolodjashnij managed just 19 games in 2017 and 2018 as the Suns took a cautious approach with his injuries.

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"I've been smashing a lot of neck exercises over the off-season and really trying to strengthen up my neck, because that has a lot to do with that whiplash that I was copping in games," Kolodjashnij said.

May finished last in the time trial of reduced numbers, with aerobic running far from his strength, while Preuss finished near the back of the pack.

Joining the first-to-fourth-year players on the track included senior players Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Angus Brayshaw, Jack Viney, Christian Petracca and Christian Salem.

Viney (ankle), Petracca (knee), Jake Lever (knee), Oscar McDonald and Jayden Hunt were all part of the rehab group who were out on the track for the first hour of training.