CHRIS Yarran has begun pre-season training at Richmond on Monday, running laps at Punt Road Oval as the Tigers' 2017 campaign official got underway.

Yarran smiled for the cameras as he ran laps and joined his younger teammates in skills work in the first day back at Tigerland.

Richmond football manager Neil Balme said last week that the club was hopeful of retaining Yarran after the defender missed all of the 2016 season with personal issues.

The smooth-moving 25-year-old doubted during the year whether he would make it back to play AFL, but after undertaking a strict fitness regime over the past three months he is confident of reigniting his career.

Yarran's off-season program centered on personal training sessions with VFL player and ex-Demon Tom Couch.

The former Blue could effectively be another recruit for the Tigers next season, adding some pace and class alongside ex-Gold Coast midfielder Dion Prestia and former Cats tough nut Josh Caddy.

Yarran, who played 119 games and booted 90 goals for the Blues, is yet to play a game for Richmond and is contracted to the Tigers until the end of 2018.