The action might be taking place at Adelaide Oval this weekend, but there was some good news from SwansHQ this morning with Kurt Tippett taking part in his first competitive training session this season.

Tippett, who has been sidelined with knee tendonitis since early this year, completed a full session at Lakeside Oval with the Swans reserves and moved with ease as he took part in ball work and contested drills.

Speaking to SwansTV as he exited the track this morning, Tippett said he felt good after his first session back.

“It was fantastic to be back out on the track with the boys,” he said.

“It was a lot of fun just warming up with them and then getting into the drills that I haven’t done in a while.

“I’m breathing pretty hard right now, so there is still some conditioning to go but I really enjoyed it.”

The key forward, who kicked 35 goals for the Swans in his debut season at the club, said his knee had responded well to his first competitive session.

“The knee feels really good,” Tippett said.

“It feels really strong at the moment.

“I just need to get conditioned now to play at the highest level, so that’s my little challenge in the next coming weeks.”

Despite spending half of the 2013 season in the stands through suspension, Tippett said watching from the sidelines had not become any easier this year.

The Swans’ number eight said it had been tough to simply look on as his team suffered a poor start to the 2014 season.

“You’d think I might be alright at watching on after missing so many games last year, but it’s hard,” he said.

“Especially when we’re not going well as a side, I’d love to be out there with the boys so hopefully very soon I can do that.”

Tippett wasn’t the only familiar face back on the park this morning, with Tommy Walsh also training for the first time in more than six months.

Walsh, who suffered a horrific hamstring tear in the Swans’ round 10 clash last season, moved freely throughout the session and was one of the more vocal players on the track.

Speaking to SwansTV, Walsh said he was relieved to finally be moving forward after spending so long in rehab.

“For a long time I couldn’t really see when I was going to get back, but the last few weeks have been easier because there was a timeline on it so I could see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

“The worry all the time was that my hamstring wouldn’t be strong enough, but I’ve put a lot of work in over the last few months and I’ve gotten it to where it needs to be.

“I’m pretty confident in sprinting and marking and wrestling and everything else I need to be doing.

“Now I’m just looking forward to getting out there and playing a game.”