football operations manager Paul Hamilton.
The Bombers were decimated by injury in 2008, and had 22 players book in for post-season surgery in 2008, but the modified training group is now down to a handful of players.
"At the moment we have about five or six players who are just working to get back to the full fitness," Hamiton told essendonfc.com.au.
"We would expect to get that list down to two or three players in the next couple of weeks – barring any further injuries.
"The doctors and the physios and our new conditioning staff have done a terrific job getting players back on track and making sure we are going to be ready once the season starts."
He said the Bombers would take a conservative approach with injured players to ensure a strong list for the start of the Toyota AFL Premiership season.
"Because of all the injuries we had with our guys last year, we will be very careful with any of the injured players," he said.
"We want to see them up and running for round one so we will do what is best for the players individually."
Hamilton highlighted the fitness of key forward prospect Scott Gumbleton and speedster Alwyn Davey after both missed most of the 2008 season through injury.
"Scott is going really well," he said.
"He tested really well when we got back on Monday. He is injury free and he is a talented player who has terrific endurance so hopefully we can see some good things from him this year."
Davey, who had a knee reconstruction last season, is in full training but has been ruled out of the NAB Cup opener in Darwin against the Western Bulldogs on February 12 after missing a portion of the pre-season.
