IT WAS on for young and old at Adelaide on Monday as the players began phase two of pre-season training.

Long distance supremo Nathan van Berlo set a new club record (9:29) in an early-morning 3km run around the Adelaide University grounds and was followed home by emerging duo Greg Gallman and Nick Gill.

But it wasn’t just the Crows’ young brigade turning heads upon their return.

Tyson Edwards - the oldest player to contest the trial - showed younger teammates that he’s still got it, recording a personal best time of his own.

New assistant coach Mark Bickley said the efforts from leaders like van Berlo and Edwards had helped set a standard for the entire group.

“The players were impressive in the time trial this morning. Some of the young blokes performed well and also some of the older blokes, especially the players in the leadership group,” Bickley said on Monday.

“Van Berlo was the standout, he ran a club record time this morning. And Tyson Edwards, who has played for probably 14 or 15 years, ran a personal best time too.

“That shows everyone at the club that the blokes at the end of their careers, or at the veteran stage, are serious about what they’re doing and are keen to keep improving.”

Adelaide backed up the morning’s fitness test with a football session on Max Basheer Reserve, where Andrew McLeod emerged without his obtrusive knee brace.

McLeod, who had surgery on his knee during the off-season, is expected to resume running next week, while Jason Porplyzia (shoulder) has begun light ball work.

Another player relishing his freedom from a knee brace is forward Trent Hentschel.

The 26-year-old, who has not played since suffering a career-threatening knee injury in round 21, 2006, was plagued by a series of soft tissue strains last year.

But Bickley was confident the former high-flying forward was finally back on track.

“Trent’s always had the determination. I don’t think he would’ve gone through two years of rehab without having the determination [to play AFL again],” Bickley said.

“But what I sense this year is that his body is capable of doing it. In the past couple of years, anecdotally, his body has let him down at varying stages. This year he hasn’t missed a session and his 3km time trial this morning was within a couple of seconds of his personal best, prior to the injury.”

Adelaide’s 2009 campaign kicks off against the Indigenous All-Stars in four weeks.

Bickley identified second-year duo Andy Otten and Jared Petrenko as two players pushing for a Darwin berth, but he said the side would take shape in coming weeks.

“Without singling too many players out, most of the guys have been really impressive so far, but we haven’t actually kicked the ball in anger yet,” he said.

“Until we actually get a little bit closer [to the games] and do more training under match conditions, then we’ll see who really jumps out of the ground.”