Essendon has welcomed back a group of its players for their first pre-season training session on Monday morning.

While only the club's first-to-fourth year players were mandatory trainers, former skipper Dyson Heppell and defender Jake Kelly were among some more experienced heads looking to get an early start.

With a sizeable contingent of the list currently training overseas in Arizona, the Bombers' training numbers will pick up over the coming fortnight as the full list prepares to return to the NEC Hangar.

See below for our photo gallery from day one of pre-season.