REGAINING Tom Liberatore next season will be like welcoming a No.1 draft pick to the club, the Western Bulldogs believe.
Liberatore missed all of last season after rupturing his left anterior cruciate ligament in a NAB Challenge match against Richmond late last February.
It was a massive blow for the Bulldogs at the time given Liberatore, one of the competition's best inside ball-winners, was their reigning best and fairest winner and had finished runner-up in the 2013 award.
However the Dogs, under new coach Luke Beveridge, were able to cover Liberatore's loss and made the finals for the first time since 2010.
Liberatore took the latest step in his rehabilitation on Monday, completing some run-throughs on the Whitten Oval as the Bulldogs' first-to-fourth-year players returned for the start of pre-season training.
At this early stage, the 23-year-old midfielder is on track for a round one return in 2016.
Training list grows for Bulldogs
Teammate Jack Macrae was excited by that prospect when he spoke with reporters at the Whitten Oval on Monday.
"When he did his ACL, 'Bevo' said when we get you back eventually it's just going to be like (getting) a No.1 recruit," Macrae said.
"Although his injury was really disappointing and devastating for so many of us, it's given plenty of blokes around the cub a chance to push themselves and earn more midfield time.
"So when he comes back we're just going to have such a greater depth throughout the midfield, which is just another added bonus.
"He's just eager to get back into it after having 12 months off - I just know how much the club means to him and what a great player he is to have around the club.
"I think it's just going to be a really great season for him, hopefully."
'Libba' punished for missing club appointments
Most of the Bulldogs players who trained on Monday completed a series of tests, including a "MAS" continuous running test that was won by forward Tory Dickson.
Macrae said Nathan Hrovat and Lachie Hunter had also stood out on day one of the Dogs' 2016 pre-season.
This time last year the Bulldogs had embarked on their 2015 pre-season with a new coach and a new captain, Robert Murphy, after a tumultuous 2014 trade period that saw then coach Brendan McCartney and captain Ryan Griffen depart their posts.
Macrae said there was a vastly different feeling around the club this year.
"We now know our identity whereas last year we were really searching for that brand of footy and this year we can really build on what we've accomplished so far," he said.
Emerging midfielder Jack Macrae at Bulldogs training on Monday. Picture: AFL Media
The Bulldogs' 2015 season ended in heartbreaking fashion when they lost to Adelaide by seven points in the second elimination final, their inaccurate 14.18 return for the night adding to their disappointment.
Macrae said that loss would motivate the Bulldogs ahead of 2016.
"(Last season was) a great year but I don't think anyone at the club is satisfied," Macrae said.
"That was the message that we all received and everyone feels that (way), which is great."
The rest of the Bulldogs' playing group will return to training on November 23.
