WHILE the majority of Fremantle's squad returned to the running track, Stephen Hill continued a detailed weight-gain program that will see him emerge bigger and stronger in 2010.

Hill and other second-year players, including Nick Suban, Zac Clarke and Tim Ruffles, main pre-season focus is to add significant size to their developing frames.

The groups pre-season campaign resumed in late October with two weeks of tailored eating, sleeping and weight lifting - with a view to rapidly add five to six kilograms each.

Assistant coach Dean Wallis said the extra gym work had continued for Hill and was behind the 19-year-old's absence on Tuesday morning.

"Over the break they came back earlier and part of the plan was to put a bit of weight on most of those first-year [players] last year," Wallis said.

"They did that over a period of probably six to eight weeks and then we got a lot of running into them.

"He (Hill) hasn’t missed a session, but we just put him in there today because on Tuesdays that's what he does.

"I think he has (bulked up) … so hopefully you'll see a bigger Stephen Hill."

New recruit Adam McPhee was also confined to the gym on Tuesday.

However, Wallis said the former Bomber trained on Monday and was not troubled by the shoulder he recently had surgery on.

On the track, Hayden Ballantyne and Steven Dodd were impressive in a series of short-course runs, while rookie Michael Barlow kept pace with draftee Dylan Roberton.

But it was Garrick Ibbotson who set the benchmark for his teammates.

"I reckon if Ibbo wasn't playing footy he'd be running 400s at the Olympics. He's a natural athlete," Wallis said.

"Ballantyne pushed himself very hard and a couple of young guys have really taken the next step. Even the big spider (Aaron Sandilands) running around on the track out there looked pretty impressive."

Luke McPharlin also ran strongly and Wallis said the key position player, who was left out of the club's leadership group for this year, was keen to atone for a disappointing 2009 season.

"It's probably one of the better pre-seasons he's had - definitely the best one since I’ve been here, so fingers crossed Luke can take the next step," Wallis said.

"I think by his own admission [2009] was a disappointing year from him and he'll want to prove himself."

Paul Hasleby, Chris Mayne, Michael Johnson, Matt de Boer, Scott Thornton and Kepler Bradley missed Tuesday's session, instead taking a bike ride with strength and conditioning coach Chris Spinks.

Aside from Tim Ruffles, who is recovering from a knee reconstruction, Wallis said Fremantle had a full, healthy list in the build up to February's NAB Cup.

Fremantle kicks of the pre-season competition against Melbourne at Subiaco Oval on February 21.