Veteran defender Beau Waters is back training with the main group this week as the entire playing squad returned to the club on Monday to commence preparations for season 2015.

The 2012 All-Australian has not played since round 15, 2013 due to ongoing complications with his shoulder, but the club’s physiotherapist Paul Tucker says he is making excellent progress.

“Beau Waters has come back in really, really good shape and he’s worked really hard in the off-season,” Tucker says.

“He’s basically is in with the rest of the group training at present.

“He’ll pull out of some of the contact work until post-Christmas, but as a general feeling it’s all really positive.”

Tucker has also been pleased with Jack Darling’s recovery from a stress foot fracture, after the young forward spent much of the off-season in a moon boot.

“The last scan showed some really good healing and we’d expect Jack to be running, but probably not until after Christmas.”

Although Matt Rosa’s peck surgery was successful, with the midfielder returning to the club in good condition, his training will be limited until after Christmas as he recovers from a minor ankle operation which he underwent early in the off-season.

Similarly, Elliot Yeo has suffered a setback with his hand, injuring it during training last week. He underwent further surgery on Wednesday and is likely to return to the main training group early next year.

Other players who will remain in rehab until after Christmas include Eric Mackenzie, who is recovering from hip surgery, and Xavier Ellis, who is making good progress after a procedure to his acromioclavicular joint.

They will be joined by Murray Newman, Scott Selwood, Sharrod Wellingham, Mitch Brown, Pat McGinnity, Brad Sheppard and Brant Colledge.