Christmas came early for the Gold Coast SUNS at Metricon Stadium on Monday morning, with skipper Gary Ablett successfully completing his first full-intensity training session of the pre-season.

The two-time Brownlow medallist was restricted to six games in 2015; his year ending prematurely in round 17 against Adelaide after tearing the medial ligament in his left knee.

However over four months later, Ablett appears to have put both his knee and shoulder injury concerns behind him, impressing on the track in what should give Gold Coast fans renewed hope heading into 2016.

“He’s great. He’s terrific. He’s been in really good fitness for a while now, we’re just taking our time as far as the extreme agility, we’re just building up in that area,” coach Rodney Eade told SUNS TV on Monday.

“But he’s been doing a fair bit of football for a few weeks now, but today was 100 per cent of it and he did some running at the end of that and ran exceptionally well so he’s in a pretty good spot.”

The 31-year-old has been the subject of public scrutiny in recent months, with his leadership and captaincy sparking debate, particularly in Melbourne.

Eade was emphatic on SUNS TV, when asked whether the inaugural SUNS captain would see out a sixth season at the helm.

“We haven’t sat down as a club but I’ve got no doubt he’ll be captain. I can’t see any reason why he won’t be,” he said.

“He’s done a good job in trying conditions this year but at the same time he’s improving all the time. He wants feedback, he takes it on board and he’s really embracing it.”