PATRICK Dangerfield has joined Gary Ablett as senior Cats to return to training early, with the Brownlow medallists hitting the track with their younger teammates on Monday.
Dangerfield and Ablett, along with Mitch Duncan and Jackson Thurlow, were present for the session at Deakin University, despite not being officially due back at the club for another week.
Dangerfield could have been forgiven for having even more time off, after playing in both Tests in the recent Virgin Australia International Rules Series.
But, he joined Ablett – who first appeared on the track last Thursday with the Cats' second-to-fourth-year players – Duncan and Thurlow for Monday's hit-out at the club's occasional summer training base in Waurn Ponds.
Duncan will be looking to capitalise on his career-best season, where he placed second in the club best and fairest behind Dangerfield and was unlucky to miss out on selection in the All Australian squad.
And, Thurlow will be keen on a big summer after falling out of the team in time for finals following 10 AFL games in 2017.
Defender Lachie Henderson, 27, who is set for even more responsibility in the backline next season after the retirements of Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan, is also back training.
Injury-prone forward Nakia Cockatoo looked to be a beefed-up picture of fitness, after a season that was punctuated by three hamstring strains.
Rookie forward Jamaine Jones appeared to set the pace in the running, after a promising season where he got close to AFL selection late in the year.
The Cats' newest draftees – Lachlan Fogarty, Tim Kelly, Charlie Constable and Gryan Miers – are yet to join in with the main group.
Former Western Bulldogs and Essendon forward Stewart Crameri will also be welcomed to the club in the coming days, after the Cats drafted him as a rookie on Monday.
Their full list is due back on Monday, December 4.
Cockatoo has clearly done a lot of work in the gym. Pictures: geelongcats.com.au
Ablett shows off his moves
Duncan, Dangerfield and Thurlow enjoy a light run. 
Ablett in the middle of the running pack.
Dangerfield practices his kicking. 
