Barnes missed last year’s finals series after breaking down during the final minutes of training at J.C. Lowe Oval in August and remains cautious about his comeback.

“It’s not going too badly,” Barnes said.

“I have started running and putting weight on it.

“I haven’t put a time line on it though, as I just want to take it as it comes.

“Hopefully it just continues to improve.”

The two-time premiership coach said star backman Matt Dwyer would also be given plenty of time to recover from a knee reconstruction.

Dwyer underwent a full knee reconstruction in late 2013 after being injured playing touch football.

“He’s getting close,” Barnes said.

“It’s a bit hard to say when he will be back but he’s getting stronger every week and shouldn’t be that far off.”

Barnes reiterated co-coach Brendan Fevola’s comments earlier this week that star key position players Marcus McMillan and Brad O’Connor would be given all the time they needed to decide their playing futures.

The Pigeons have been relatively low-key over the summer.