Essendon Captain Jobe Watson is on track to partake in full training when the team returns for the start of the pre-season.

Watson initially injured his shoulder against Hawthorn.

He played the following week against St Kilda before being sent in for surgery, ruling him out of the rest of the season.

“He’s now at a stage where he’s fully running,” Club Doctor Bruce Reid said.

“By the time he comes back (for pre-season), he’ll have been fully training for four weeks or so.

“There will be no hold up on him.

“His operation has been very good.”

Tom Bellchambers also missed the second half of the year.

The ruckman was sidelined because of a stress fracture in his foot.

“He’s fully healed, he had a very minor clear up on the outside of his ankle and his ankle’s good now,” Dr Reid said.

“He should have a much better year next year.”

Zach Merrett played the first 17 games of the season before a foot problem ended his 2015.

But like Bellchambers, he is nearing a full recovery.

“Zach’s basically jogging now and there are no problems with him at all,” Dr Reid said.

Travis Colyer was enjoying one of his best seasons when his campaign came to an end because of a foot problem after round 11.

“We always worry about navicular stress fractures but his has healed,” Dr Reid said. 

“So he will progress out of his boot now and he will be fully training at the start of pre-season.”