STAR Essendon forward Jake Carlisle faces a significant challenge to get himself fit for the start of the season as he continues to battle a knee injury.

 

Carlisle has dealt with a persistent case of patella tendinitis this pre-season, limiting his time out on the track.

 

The 23-year-old joined in the first drill at full training on Friday, but will need a significant block of time on the track to prove his fitness ahead of the Bombers' season opener against the Sydney Swans on April 4.

 

"Carlisle had his first time back on the deck (on Friday)," Bombers high performance football manager Neil Craig told AFL.com.au.

 

"He did our first kicking drill … so that's a progression. We'll keep our fingers crossed that he'll be able to keep progressing into more of our training.

 

"We won't rush Jake because he's missed a lot of training.

 

"He's done a lot of off-field training. He now needs to get some good continuity, so we'll just judge him week by week."

 

Carlisle was one of many star Bombers who did not take part in the club's match simulation session at its Tullamarine base on Friday morning, joining Adam Cooney, Jobe Watson, David Myers and Michael Hurley on the sidelines.

 

Craig said Hurley had pulled up "sore" from training last week, so the Bombers decided to ease back on his training load.

 

Watson and Myers (ankle) ran laps around the boundary while their teammates were put through a willing match simulation session in hot conditions.

 

"Myers has been a little bit inconsistent with his training," Craig said. "But he's coming back now. He's had a big workload, but both those guys (Myers and Watson) are good."

 

Veteran Bomber Adam Cooney was also absent from the practice match, but Craig said the club had been pleased with his training throughout the summer.

 

"Cooney's done pretty much all the work. His pre-season has been exceptional in terms of continuity," Craig said.

 

"If those older guys get sore at any stage we just back them off a bit.

 

"They're better off missing one session compared to four sessions."

 

Craig said the club is pleased with where the list is at ahead of its first NAB Challenge game against St Kilda at Morwell on March 7.

 

"(Coach) James (Hird) is really pleased with the preparation, particularly the last three weeks we've really ramped it up," Craig said.

 

"We had close to a three-hour session today (Friday). We're in a block at the moment with a really heavy load.

 

"You expect guys to get a little bit sore but you've just got to keep going without breaking anyone down."