Adelaide High Performance Manager Darren Burgess says players brought plenty of intensity in the first pre-season training session ahead of the 2023 AFL campaign.

Although the Crows’ one to four year players’ off-season break has now ended, many senior players, including Taylor Walker, Brodie Smith and Captain Rory Sloane, also returned on Monday.

Burgess said coaches and staff were pleased with the shape players returned in and there were three who stood out to him, when it came to the off-season work they had put in.

“They all look good, they all look fit,” Burgess said.

“Everyone says that at this time of year but they all look great and their skills were pretty good, considering the wind.

“In terms of the guys who have put on size, Lachy Sholl, Ned McHenry, they look noticeably bigger.

“Cooky wasn’t (on field) today because of his sinus but he’s in really good shape.

“One of the most impressive parts is the amount of skill work they’ve done (in the off-season) and the amount of gym work they’ve done.”

Burgess, who is set to enter his second season at West Lakes, also revealed how Sloane was tracking, following his ACL injury.

“He’s looking good and probably could’ve done some of the drills, but we’ll take it slowly, especially in the pre-Christmas period,” Burgess said.

“He’s also put on some good size and he’s in a great position right now to tackle most of the pre-season.

“We will certainly be cautious with him… but at this stage, he’s doing everything right to best prepare himself for Round One.”

Monday marked new recruit Izak Rankine’s first training session in his new colours and alongside his new teammates, with Burgess saying he was keen to start working with the 22-year-old goal sneak.

“It was nice to see Izak Rankine, see him move, that’s pretty impressive,” Burgess said.

“We are all pretty excited about working with him.

“From what I’ve seen so far, he’s certainly got the ability (to play midfield), he was up running with all of our midfielders, so it’s exciting.”

Adelaide’s senior players are not officially due back at the Club until December 5 and Burgess said he had plenty planned for their return.

“There will be time trials on the fifth and they (players) know that,” Burgess said.

“In the middle of January, they might be doing 15-16 kms a session but now we are easing them into that.

“But we’re tracking really, really well.”