Gary Ablett Jr trains with Palmerston at Cazalys Arena before their match against St Mary’s

AFL legend Gary Ablett Jr has trained with Palmerston Magpies ahead of his Top End debut against St Mary’s at TIO Stadium. Check out our gallery of 30-plus photos and watch the videos.

One of the greatest players in AFL history has enjoyed his first training session with Palmerston ahead of the Pies’ clash with St Mary’s on Friday night.

Ablett hit the track at Cazalys Arena on Thursday night ahead of their Round 8 match at TIO Stadium.

Palmerston supporters and players alike clamoured into the Cazalys Arena to see Gary Ablett Jr take to the field

Coach Josh Heath called the atmosphere electric ahead of his players’ first meet with the AFL legend.

Gary Ablett Jr at his first training with Palmerston Magpies ahead of his first game in the NTFL. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“It’s exciting, it’s electric down here,” Heath said

“Plenty of people here just to meet him, hear from him and shake his hands.

“We’re really hoping there’s a big crowd out there for tomorrow night.

Gary Ablett Jr walks down to his first training with Palmerston Magpies ahead of his first game in the NTFL. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“We want to be able to facilitate as many NT people as we can to watch Gary out on the field.

Close friend and former Geelong teammate Mathew Stokes, who will also turn out for Palmerston, said the pair had been training around two times a week, either through football drills or playing social basketball.

The two a host of players onto the field for his first hit out as a Palmerston player.Wearing the Magpies colours he made his way out introducing himself to the starstruck players.

Gary Ablett Jr is here to make his NTFL debut. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

The former AFL legend is looking in fine form. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr steps out on the field with fellow Palmerston players. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Mathew Stokes back training with his mate Gary Ablett Jr at Palmerston Magpies ahead of his first game in the NTFL. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Mathew Stokes having a run around in the black and white. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr trains for his first game back in two years. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Thursday’s training received some fanfare with two former AFL players and friends taking to the field. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Mathew Stokes running at the Cazalys Arena for Palmerston Magpies. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr at his first training with Palmerston Magpies ahead of his first game in the NTFL. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Josh Heath speaks about the upcoming match featuring Gary Ablett Jr. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr at his first training with Palmerston Magpies ahead of his first game in the NTFL. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr introduced himself to the Palmerston squad in his first NTFL training session. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr training with Palmerston Magpies ahead of his NTFL debutL. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Mathew Stokes back training with his mate Gary Ablett Jr at Palmerston Magpies ahead of his first game in the NTFL. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Palmerston junior Mathew Stokes back in the Palmerston Magpies fold. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr chats to all the teams at his first training with Palmerston Magpies ahead of his first game in the NTFL. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr will make his NTFL debut against St Mary’s. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr joins in Palmerston’s training ahead of his NTFL debut. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr gets involved at Palmerston’s training session. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr and Mathew Stokes introduced themselves to the Palmerston squads. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

The ‘Little Master’ training with Palmerston ahead of their Round 8 clash with NTFL. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr at the Palmerston Magpies thursday night training. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Mathew Stokes back at the Palmerston Magpies training ground. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr shows he’s still got it at the Palmerston Magpies training session. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr with a couple of Palmerston players ahead of the big game. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr will face St Mary’s in the black and white of Palmerston from 7pm on Friday. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr leaps for the ball as he shows a bit of his skills in a Palmerston Magpies training. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr was embraced by the Palmerston faithful ahead of his 2022-23 NTFL match. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Mathew Stokes back training with his mate Gary Ablett Jr at Palmerston Magpies ahead of his first game in the NTFL. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr training with the Magpies ahead of his NTFL debut. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr running with the Palmerston Magpies squad. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Gary Ablett Jr walks down to the field for his first training with Palmerston. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson