FORMER Essendon pair Jake Melksham and Michael Hibberd hit the track on the first day at training alongside Melbourne's first-to-fourth-year players.
The duo trained with a Demons' rehab group that included Jack Viney as he overcomes a hip operation and Tom McDonald who is recovering from shoulder surgery.
New coach Simon Goodwin said the club had a relatively small number of players on its injury list, with Cam Pederson due to return from a shoulder operation on a limited preparation in a fortnight.
Aaron vandenBerg trained as he recovers from ankle surgery and Jay Kennedy-Harris was also part of the rehab group having suffered soft tissue injuries in 2016.
The Demons also have a new-look coaching group with Troy Chaplin and Matthew Egan on board for 2017.
Chaplin, who retired from Richmond last year after 215 games with the Tigers and Port Adelaide, is considered a bright coaching prospect, while Egan, whose career with Geelong was cut short in 2007 due to injury sought a fresh start from Essendon.
On the track for the Demons was an impressive list of young talent led by Jesse Hogan, Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw and Jayden Hunt among the group running laps and engaging in drills.
"Starting pre-season healthy gives you a great base," Goodwin said ahead of Monday's training.
Jake Melksham and Michael Hibberd hit the track. Picture: Getty Images