Western Bulldogs Physical Performance Manager Mathew Inness says he’s been pleased with the efforts in week one of the Club’s pre-season campaign.

The Bulldogs’ first to four year players returned on Monday, with the five years-plus players returning on Monday 23 November and the Club’s draftees joining the following Monday.

Despite the spread of players returning, Inness says he’s been satisfied with the work of the young group this week.

“It’s a bit of a staggered start… We’ve got a testing phase and then we just gradually pick up the volume so when we come in post-Christmas we can really start to lift it.

“It’s been good… They (first to four year players) have come back keen and in decent shape.”

Despite strength and conditioning being a major focus of the pre-season campaign, Inness said skills-based sessions will also be included from the outset.

“We get straight into the skills so a bit of testing to start, they’ve got cross training and weights, on the track it’s mainly skills with some conditioning at the end of it.”

Inness echoed Jack Macrae’s sentiments earlier this week, naming Tory Dickson as a notable standout from the first week of training.

“Tory Dickson’s come back well, Joel Hamling’s come back in good shape and Toby McLean’s another one that’s come back that’s impressed so far.”

Spending 2014 as the Club’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, Inness was promoted to Physical Performance Manager in September this year.