Monday’s time trial winner Brett Bewley was pleased to shave two seconds off his personal best 2km time as he and his teammates made their return to training for the new year.

Touted by teammates as a favourite to step up to a wing role in 2020, the midfielder has remained level headed about the months ahead after shining in the time trial and on the training track.

“I knocked a couple of seconds off (my personal best time), that’s always a positive,” Bewley said after the run.

“I want to just keep adding things to my game that hopefully, if I am there when the whips are cracking, I can play my role and perform. I’m not really looking too far ahead.

“I’m looking after my body and just making sure that I’m getting to know my teammates better and the intricacies of their game.

“It’s an exciting time of year.”

Bewley credited his quick time on fellow midfielder Blake Acres’ setting the pace early.

Acres was a surprise leader after the first lap but at the end of the two kilometres, the entire top five matched the results from the 20 November time trial, with Andrew Brayshaw in second, Griffin Logue in third, Acres in fourth and Ethan Hughes in fifth.

“Blake set a quick pace at the start and I just sat on him for the first lap or so,” Bewley said.

“It’s good when they push themselves at the start and Blake ran well. 

“A few of the boys ran PBs today. I think Lachie Schultz knocked off eight seconds, and Darcy Tucker knocked off eight seconds as well.

“There’s some boys in good shape at the moment and that’s really positive moving forward ramping up into training and match sim.”