He headed off into the mountains surrounding his hometown, Rostrevor, in Ireland and turned over the legs for half an hour.
Some days he would push himself through the scenic ranges well known for its mountain biking trails. Other times his body would tell him to keep an even pace.
It was a time to unwind, but the occasional foray through the hills didn't hurt and helped him look forward to what awaited him back in Melbourne.
"[It] was quite easy to come back," Mooney told AFL.com.au.
"Just been away from training for so long gave me the appetite to come back and I'm really hungry to get back into next season."
Mooney has progressed well but there remains no certainty he will make the grade.
The 20-year-old Gaelic footballer from Ireland has played six senior games in two seasons, however he has started as a substitute each time.
He was very good in the VFL during 2013, improving his skills and pressure and building the endurance to play out four quarters - Gaelic games last just 60 minutes.
On a blustery afternoon against Williamstown he kicked five goals, one after a bouncing run through the middle of the ground, and ended the season with 21 VFL goals.
"I'll never stop learning because it's a new sport for me and I feellike [after] another pre-season – getting run into the legs andconditioning – hopefully I'll put my hand up for selection," Mooneysaid.
He has entered into the battle for a coveted small forward spot at theMagpies so he understands it won't be easy to break into the team. Attimes he pushed up to the wing last season, continuing to expand hisoptions and build his resume.
Known for his explosive pace, his game sense can improve.
Sometimes he looks like a balloon losing air as he runs haphazardlyaround the contest. At other times he is Speedy Gonzales, unstoppable,pinging from one point to another like a laser.
Below: Caolan Mooney celebrates a goal during the Pies' clash with Freo in 2013. Picture: AFL Media
That startling attribute makes Mooney's rate of progress hard to read, particularly when he has been used as a substitute, because he is yet to play with fluency or involve himself enough at senior level.
When his endurance improves, his up and back running should make him a dangerous opponent. At the moment however he is more like a wave crashing on the rocks, exploding then receding.
Development coach Craig McRae has lent support and senior coach Nathan Buckley has continued to emphasise that continuous learning is what matters most.
"[Buckley] is looking forward to getting another pre-season through me and seeing where I will finish up," Mooney said.
He finished midfield in the two-kilometre time trial that opened his pre-season and understands hard work is ahead.
That doesn't concern Mooney at all, but you can sense from his words he carries a mixture of impatience, realism and confidence within.
"It's not going to be easy. It's professional isn't it?" Mooney said.
For someone who can burst from the blocks like a shot arrow, he is apparently a slow burn when it comes to talking. He takes his time to warm up but his infectious humour shines once he is rolling.
But you get the sense from Mooney he is all business as he heads into 2014. With a two-year extension on his contract recently signed, he wants to create a few more highlights. At the moment the fact he is here having a crack is highlight enough.
"The fact that it's a professional sport and it's your job, coming from such a small town and living in Melbourne seems almost surreal most days," Mooney said.
Those Rostrevor mountains seem a long way away.
