Essendon players have kicked off their 2014 pre-season campaign, returning to training at their new home base on Wednesday.

A select group of players hit the track at the club’s new High Performance Centre taking part in testing, assessments and a light skills session.

Midfielder Ben Howlett said it was exciting to come back to a brand new training facility.

“It makes it enjoyable when you come to a nice new facility, a nice new oval and some Melbourne weather that is turning on the goods,” Howlett said.

“It is really exciting, the guys are looking in great shape and I think they are ready to go.”

“There is a fair majority of young guys so we have almost half the squad back which make good numbers to start with and there is a few of us older guys here to support them for the next few days.”

Howlett said there was a good energy among the playing group about the move to the new training base at Melbourne Airport.

“Even with the older guys a lot of us will be coming and going over the next few weeks ahead of everyone returning.”

“I have been here for the last two or three weeks just in and out training in the gym and trying some of the new equipment.”

“It is a fantastic facility and I know the guys are really excited about getting in and using it.”

Howlett, Jake Melksham, Jake Carlisle, Michael Hibberd and Dyson Heppell were among those returning to training on Wednesday morning.

Among the fresh faces hitting the track were GWS recruits Shaun Edwards and Kurty Aylett as well as Alternate Talent rookie Johnny Rayner.

Aylett said he had enjoyed his first official day as a Bomber.

“I have really enjoyed it, the boys have been really welcoming and was rapt to just get out on the field and get rid of some of the nerves.”

The group will continue to ramp up their training over the course of the next few weeks before a large group head on a high altitude camp to Boulder, Colorado