HIS FIRST day back at work started with a gut-busting time trial, but even that couldn't wipe the smile off Ahmed Saad's face on his return to St Kilda.
On Wednesday, Saad linked up with his teammates – some old friends and others new faces – at Casey Fields for the first time since his 18-month doping suspension ended.
While many of the Saints would have been dreading the 2km run that awaited in the hot and muggy conditions, Saad was simply elated to be back wearing Saints colours.
"I just couldn't be happier. It's been a long 16 months until now and it's all over now and I'm just happy to be here and be with the boys," he said.
"I got a lot of hugs and stuff, it was a good reception from the boys.
"There's another level of appreciation because it's been taken away from me. I don't want that to happen again, so I'm going to make sure I do everything I can."
Saad has been forced to train solo since he was banned for consuming a sports drink with a prohibited substance.
For the past year-and-a-half he has pushed himself to the limit under the watchful eye of his personal trainer and ex-Collingwood player Adam Iacobucci.
He believes his fitness is at least on a par with when he played his last AFL game 522 days ago.
And the results speak for themselves, with Saad finishing 15th in the time trial – won in a canter by Jack Newnes - in just over six-and-a-half minutes.
"It's pretty much the same, so I was pretty happy with it," he said.
"I came back in a good time. I'll speak to the coaches and I'll see what they think. It was pretty consistent with my other times and that's what I was aiming for."
The 25-year-old had a nervous wait before he was thrown a lifeline by the Saints in last month's NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
Now he is determined to make up for lost time and add to his 29 career games and 45 goals.
"Ideally I'd love to come in and play round one," Saad said.
"It's going to be up to the coaches to decide that and I'm going to make sure that I make it really hard on them not to pick me.
"But all I've got to do now is put my head down and work hard and impress the boys again, impress the coaches and show them that I'm ready.
"We've still got 'Schneids' (Adam Schneider) with a lot of other experience, but other than that I think I'm next (small forward) in line in terms of games (played). So I definitely think there's a spot there in the forward line for me."
Most of the Saints' squad ran the time trial on Wednesday, with Newnes – who was sick beside the track afterwards – racing away from runner-up Sean Dempster, Josh Saunders and Maverick Weller.
Several big names are on modified duties and boxed on the sidelines, including skipper Nick Riewoldt, No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin, 2013 best and fairest Jack Steven and ruckman Tom Hickey.
Meanwhile, draftee Jack Lonie is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained at training on December 19 and was in a moon boot on Wednesday.
