BEN Lennon and Nick Vlastuin are making solid headway in their returns from off-season hip surgery with the Tigers pair put through their paces at the club's first official pre-season training session on Friday.

Albeit within the constraints of the rehab group, Vlastuin and Lennon ran laps at a steady pace around Punt Road Oval as the Tigers' first to fourth-year players returned from holidays.

Vlastuin also completed some high intensity running during the hour-long session and appears to be slightly ahead of Lennon at this early stage.

In positive news for the Tigers, youngster Nathan Drummond has begun his running program as he returns from a serious knee injury.

Drummond, pick No.52 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in his first AFL match against Melbourne in April earlier this year.

In coach Damien Hardwick's absence, assistants Brendon Lade and Mark Williams were in charge of overseeing the session, which saw 10 players in full training.

There was a focus on decision making and finding the open target in continuous game-scenario drills, a chunk of training the players found particularly taxing.

Second-year midfielders Corey Ellis and Connor Menadue both stood out in the drills, alongside Brandon Ellis and Kamdyn McIntosh, and appear the players most likely to push for a regular senior spot in 2016.

After a light session on Friday, the players can expect a tougher Saturday with a time trial pencilled into their schedules.

The full squad is set to return to the club on November 27.

Rookie Ivan Soldo trying his hand at tennis. Picture: AFL Media


Development coach Andrew McQualter looks on training. Picture: AFL Media


New Tiger Jacob Townsend in his first session. Picture: AFL Media