COLLINGWOOD recruit Dayne Beams is not formally due back at training until next week but the star midfielder has already got a jump start on pre-season training.

Beams joined his teammates at Olympic Park Oval for a long and gruelling training session on Monday, completing his running program alongside Irishman Mark Keane away from the main group.

The former Lion is set to join in full training next week but went through a program of repeat running and completed a number of laps to keep up his conditioning.

The Lions granted Beams' wish of returning to Melbourne and his old club Collingwood via a trade. In exchange for Beams and picks No.41 and 44, the Lions received pick No.18, 56 and a future first-round pick from the Magpies.

Midfielders Taylor Adams and Josh Thomas also joined in training a week early, while skipper Scott Pendlebury and ruckman Brodie Grundy were also back before being required.

AFL.com.au understands coach Nathan Buckley will be back in at the club next week after an extended break following the club's Grand Final loss.

Buckley is not due back in his post in a full-time capacity until after Christmas.

Jordan De Goey ran strongly during the conditioning part of his program, while Jaidyn Stephenson (who is sporting a new tattoo on his calf) also stood out in the running component of drills.

Monday's session was a tough one for the players with wrestling and one-on-one contested ball drills as well as hard running between footy specific drills to boost conditioning.

In what appeared to be a strong focus between drills, the players were also instructed to run to different coaches scattered around the field to streamline the time between the rotation of drills.

The club's draftees – Isaac Quaynor, Will Kelly and Atu Bosenavulagi – were there to observe training on Monday but are set to join their teammates on the track on Wednesday after their two-day induction.

Toward the end of training, the players left nothing in the tank as they ran repeat 150m sprints that left players gasping for air including Irish rookie Anton Tohill and ruckman Brodie Grundy.