David Myers arrived at Essendon's base in Tullamarine on Wednesday morning, for the first time since he was banned from football for doping.
Former Don turned St Kilda recruit Jake Carlisle used social media to express his delight at being able to return to training, saying it had been a very long year away from the game.
Of the 34 past and present Bombers players banned from football for their involvement in the club's illegal supplements program, only about a third remain listed AFL players.
Most remain suspended from playing until November 13, but the Dons who have agreed to return to the club next year were allowed to start using the training base from Wednesday.
Myers, Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley, Heath Hocking, Tom Bellchambers, Dyson Heppell, Brent Stanton, Travis Colyer and Ben Howlett have all agreed to return to the Bombers, Michael Hibberd wants to play on elsewhere and Tayte Pears is leaving football to become a firefighter.
But Essendon captain Jobe Watson has not yet said if he will continue to play football and the AFL has not declared whether he can keep the Brownlow medal he won in 2012.
Safe to say I'm a happy man today! Thank you to all who have supported me... pic.twitter.com/R31WYa5hbZ— Jake Carlisle (@jcarlisle22) September 13, 2016
More to Come.
