JOBE Watson has returned to Essendon headquarters for day one of pre-season training, with a number of questions still lingering in the fallout from the 2012 supplements scandal.

Watson arrived just before 8am, and appeared eager to get back to work as he rushed past waiting news cameras.

"It's exciting, it's been 10 months, so looking forward to getting back into and starting again," Watson said.

The 31-year-old is yet to indicate whether he plans to attend next week's AFL Commission meeting to discuss his 2012 Brownlow Medal.

The League's governing body is facing the prospect of stripping Watson's medal if he doesn't decide to hand it back after the Court of Arbitration for Sport in January found 34 past and present Essendon players guilty of using banned substance Thymosin Beta-4 and suspended them for the season.

Another question is the captaincy.

It was a role Watson held for six years before his ban, while Brendon Goddard took the reins last season.

But Dyson Heppell, also returning to training from suspension on Monday, is considered the likely man for the job in 2017.

"That'll take its due course," Heppell told reporters.

"I don't think a decision will be made until next year.

"Obviously plenty of great candidates there, whether or not Jobe still wants to do it, BJ (Goddard) did a fantastic job last year, plenty of young leaders coming up as well."

The return of an experienced crop of players – 10 who received year-long bans have stayed on with the Bombers, including Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker – has some commentators predicting Essendon could surge back up the ladder next season.

However Heppell says they have to "keep a lid" on what could happen next year, John Worsfold's second season as coach.

"(It's) great to get back around the club, and catch up with all the boys again, awesome," Heppell said.

"I think we've prepared ourselves really well, we've put in an elite program this year, and our bodies are in good shape to attack the pre-season."

The remaining Bombers players from the 34 who received anti-doping bans are allowed to resume training on Monday, but with their suspensions technically still in place they are still not allowed to take part in club-arranged media and marketing events until the middle of the month.

Jake Long tackles returning Bomber Michael Hurley. Picture: Getty Images



