THE MOST difficult thing about Monday night's historic first pre-season training session for the Brisbane Lions women's team was "keeping a lid on the hype", said coach Craig Starcevich.

The Lions assembled at AFL Queensland's home base at Yeronga for their maiden session as a group – and there was plenty of club personnel showing their support.

CEO Greg Swann, first-year men's coach Chris Fagan, newly appointed football manager David Noble and almost the entire playing list joined Lions staff members to watch the women go through their paces.

Starcevich said it was an "amazing" show of support, and one that ensured a memorable night.

"The challenge was to keep a lid on the hype," Starcevich told AFL.com.au.

"It's the first time almost all of them – we still have one player overseas – had all been together on the training track, in their new training shirts, so it was a bit of a job to get the focus in the right place."

The one absentee was 20-year-old defender Shannon Campbell, who is currently on a soccer scholarship in the United States and due to return at Christmas.

After the initial excitement, the squad settled down for a series of skill-based drills followed by a time trial.

Starcevich's staff includes former Lions Brent Staker (forwards coach) and Daniel Merrett (defensive coach).

"It takes a while for us to all fit into our roles and get things humming along, but we're very pleased to have such a big group helping out, which the girls aren't used to in club footy, where it's a bit of a skeleton staff arrangement," Starcevich said.

"I'm sure the girls got the sense of whole-of-club support and we're looking at some initiatives to bring the groups (men and women) together."

With such a limited preparation until the season begins in the first week of February, Starcevich said they would quickly progress to game simulation training, while trying to balance fitness and skill development.