MELBOURNE midfielder/forward Christian Petracca has shaken off the soreness that saw him placed on restricted duties last week and has re-joined the main group.

However, co-captain Nathan Jones continued to train with the rehab group after experiencing some back spasms late last week.

The Demons told AFL.com.au last Friday that Jones' back issue was only minor and the way he moved on Friday morning in searing temperatures suggested he is not far from joining back in the main schedule.

After a brief stint on modified duties, Petracca started back training with the main group on Monday and showed no signs of soreness.

In fact, the powerfully built onballer thrived during a testing series of shuttle runs held immediately after the players completed an intense 400m run following their contact work.

Wearing a white cap with a towel draped from the back of it to protect himself from the sun, Jones did all the ball work with teammates Jeff Garlett, Charlie Spargo and Tim Smith.

At the end of the session, he also completed a number of repeat sprints.

Garlett, who was limited by a rib injury prior to Christmas, did not seem to be too troubled by any niggle he may be carrying.

Defender Joel Smith, on the comeback trail from a leg injury, ran laps around the perimeter of Gosch's Paddock as he continues his recovery.

High half-forward Alex Neal-Bullen and reigning best and fairest winner Clayton Oliver were two of the standouts in match practice.

Neal-Bullen's ability to get from contest to contest, using his elite endurance, was one of the key takeaways during the two-hour-plus session.

Oliver, who averaged 29.95 disposals per game in 2017, appears to have trimmed down yet again and his efforts to work into the space created by teammates appears to have improved signifcantly.

The ever-efficient Jordan Lewis, who has been training as a defender this pre-season, displayed all his nous and experience in the way he used the footy back into the middle to start the ball rolling his team's way.