ROBBIE Tarrant is progressing well in his recovery from leg surgery and should ramp up his training after Christmas, North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says.
 
Tarrant was sidelined for all bar one VFL game and one AFL game last year as he battled to overcome a tibia injury that had plagued him since early in 2013.
 
After the Roos' round 13 loss to Adelaide this year, Tarrant was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his leg and underwent season-ending surgery.
 
Tarrant's leg problems were the latest in a string of injuries that have limited him to just 39 games in his seven seasons at Arden Street.
 
Tarrant is one of a host of North key forwards who are returning from post-season surgery, with Drew Petrie (ankle) and Ben Brown (knee) both unlikely to join in full training until January.
 
"Tarrant is in really good condition. We've got a graduated program for him given his injury history," Scott said.
 
"'Browny' had knee surgery which we knew (he needed) all year and it was delayed to the end of the season. Drew is a little bit the same.
 
"In terms of surgery, they're fairly minor. They'll be in full training post Christmas."
 
Scott was speaking after the club's 2km time trial at Lakeside Stadium on Thursday, when North and new apparel partner Canterbury hosted a group of journalists and club legend Mick Martyn.
 
The journalists and Martyn competed in the first 2km heat, but were blown off the track by the players with winner Sam Gibson lapping all of them.
 
Former Carlton spearhead Jarrad Waite was not at Lakeside Stadium, with the veteran set to do a 2km time trial on grass with a group of players on modified programs.
 
"I can confirm he's not injured. I've heard that a few times," Scott said of Waite.
 
North vice-captain Jack Ziebell is another Roo returning from post-season surgery, with the vice-captain recovering from a shoulder operation in October.
 
Ziebell said on Thursday that his rehabilitation was going well.
 
"I don't have to miss any of the running, which is a good thing. It's something I need to work on and I think I'm as good as I've been," Ziebell said.
 
As much as his endurance has improved since he arrived at Arden Street in late 2008, Ziebell says it will be something he has to work on for the rest of his career.
 
"I've definitely improved it to a level that I can compete at AFL level, which is good," Ziebell said.
 
"But like any footballer, you've got areas that you can improve on and that's just an area that I've got to keep working on."