The GIANTS hit the track for day one of preparations for season 2022 as the first-to-fourth year players returned to the club.

12 weeks since the GIANTS lost to Geelong in a semi-final in Perth, the players were back home at GIANTS HQ to get started again.

Arrival time was 6:30am with players greeted with a rapid antigen test, a new daily ritual.

The GIANTS’ four new draftees - Finn Callaghan, Leek Aleer, Josh Fahey and Cooper Hamilton - were all on deck after arriving in Sydney on Saturday along with the club’s other addition, delisted free agent Jarrod Brander.

14 players were unlucky enough to be welcomed back with a 2km time trial on morning one, with the draftees and a handful of other players to run their time trial next week when the full squad returns.

There was still some experience around on day one with Lachie Whitfield and Jesse Hogan coming into the club to train while key defender Phil Davis is straight back into the swing of things, participating in the full schedule.

The time trial was won by third year defender-turned-midfielder Lachie Ash with wingman Xavier O’Halloran hot on his heels with the pair setting the pace and finishing well ahead.

Key forward Jake Riccardi finished an impressive third with big-bodied mid Tom Green in fourth and second-year Conor Stone rounding out the top five.

Also impressing were key defender Cam Fleeton and ruckman Kieren Briggs who both ran personal-best times.

The full group will return next Monday before breaking on December 17 for a three-week Christmas break.