Polak, who missed much of the Tigers' 2008 season after being hit by a tram while out with teammates in late June, is making progress in his bid to play AFL football again.
He took part in training at Gosch's Paddock near Punt Road, where the large majority of the Richmond squad endured a skills session in searing heat.
Polak was joined by Irishmen Connor Meredith (County Laois) and Niall McKeever (County Antrim), both of whom are trialling with the Tigers.
It isn't known when or if Polak will be able to compete at the same level he achieved before his severe head injury – which left him with bruising to his brain – but outgoing captain Kane Johnson said Polak's return had buoyed spirits.
"It gives everyone a lift because we went through a hard time last year," Johnson said.
"When one of your teammates goes down [it's tough] … it's hard enough when he goes down on the footy field with a bad injury but to have something like that and be hit by a tram is just devastating for the whole club.
"To see him out there gives everyone a really big lift."
Johnson said while he wasn't 100 per cent sure of his teammate's progress, he was optimistic the key-position Tiger would continue to make significant strides.
"I think he's progressing really well and hopefully he can get back out there and play one day, but at the moment we're just trying to get him out training and see how the progress sort of goes from there," Johnson said.
"At the moment he's just doing what he can and he's just relying on the physios and the doctors to tell him what to do."
Senior Tigers Nathan Brown, Matthew Richardson, Troy Simmonds and Johnson were among the onlookers during the session which was conducted in temperatures reaching the mid 30s.
