ARRIVING back at Essendon for the first time after serving a doping suspension was "nerve-wracking" for Bomber Travis Colyer.

The 25-year-old was one of 34 present and former Essendon players to be hit by a season-long ban from the Court of Arbitration for Sport last January.

Colyer did a variety of things in his time away from football, including part-time work, travelling overseas for a month and finishing several units of his commerce degree.

He told SEN on Friday that returning to Bombers headquarters brought similar emotions to when he walked into the club for the first time as an 18-year-old.

"It was almost a little bit like that feeling, not really knowing what to expect because it's a new environment with a new coach (John Worsfold), although obviously we had him for a little bit (before being banned)," Colyer said.

"It was a little bit nerve-racking but the support that we've had from not just the staff and the football department, but the fans as well has been overwhelming."

Colyer was able to look at the positives of being away from an AFL environment.

"Football is such an intense and consuming environment, any opportunity you can get to have some time away, not in the circumstances that you want, but it's definitely reinvigorated me," he said.

Colyer predicted he would keep playing across half-forward and on a wing, but hoped to expand his game further.

"My next development is hopefully to play a little bit more inside mid. I've been working hard on my stoppage craft," he said.

The arrival of dual Brownlow medallist Greg Williams as a coach has proven beneficial for Colyer.

Williams is at the club for two or three days a week.

"He's just giving a bit of game knowledge and some insights to particular players and the group. He's not afraid to say it how it is in meetings and around the track," Colyer said.