AFL players return to training as preparations ramp up for season restart

AFL players have returned to their clubs as preparations for the footy restart ramp up, but one coach has issued a warning about the three-week pre-season and Heath Shaw flags the return of playing coaches.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 18: Jordan De Goey of the Magpies kicks during a Collingwood Magpies AFL training session at the Holden Centre on May 18, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Premiership coach John Longmire says players won’t be totally ready to resume the season on June 11.

As AFL players returned to training around the country on Monday, Longmire warned a three-week mini pre-season wasn’t enough to have players at “full tilt”, but said fans should cut the AFL some slack given the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the interrupted season.

“I think there will be an understanding and acceptance that you are not going to get them back into full tilt in that amount of time, based upon what we know,” the Swans coach said.

“Our program is all about is trying to make them robust to be able to withstand the challenges of training and the challenges of a game in three weeks.

“You can’t teach a lot of game plan stuff or get them much fitter, it’s essentially about conditioning them so that they don’t get injured, or prevent that as much as we can.”

Players will train in groups of eight for one week of non-contact training before being able to resume full training next week as preparations ramp up for the resumption of games.

Collingwood was one of the first clubs to hit the track this morning, with star Jordan De Goey in the first training group.

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Jordan De Goey in action this morning. Picture: Getty

De Goey in action.

Brody Mihocek on the training track. Picture: Getty

Brodie Grundy has returned with an impressive moustache. Picture: Getty

Scott Pendlebury hits the track. Picture: Getty

Reigning premier Richmond is also back training at Punt Rd, with Dustin Martin one of the first to begin.

Martin joined premiership skipper Trent Cotchin, Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy in the sunbathed training session on Monday morning. Star goalkicker Jack Riewoldt said the Tigers had been given a detailed schedule of all their activities at the club this week.

While some clubs might choose to separate their star players in training groups to avoid a wipe-out should one player become infected with COVID-19, Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said there had been little method in splitting the groups, saying team synergy outweighed the risks.

Dustin Martin in action at Punt Rd. Picture: Getty

Trent Cotchin helps with drink bottles. Picture: Getty

Then gets down to business. Picture: Getty

“We’ve just backed in our system,” he said.

“At the end of the day, you worry about what we can control. Our backs are all together, our mids are all together. We’ve got an understanding of what that looks like, but the connection of how we play is vitally important.

“For us, it was about let’s get the connection of our team up and going straight away. We’ve got great faith in our players with regard to the hygiene … social distancing. They’ve been very well educated with that, so we’re very confident they’ll be OK.

“Our biggest No.1 priority is getting our side playing together as quickly as we can in this three-week period.”

Patrick Cripps in action at Carlton training. Picture: Getty

Sam Docherty in action this morning at Ikon Park. Picture: Getty

Eddie Betts looked happy to be back. Picture: Getty

Sydney players, including superstar Lance Franklin have also already started training.

“He’s been able to train throughout this whole period and kept himself in pretty good nick, so conditioning-wise he’s fine,” Longmire said.

“It’s just a matter of what the next build-up looks like.”

North Melbourne players have also arrived at Arden St, with players having their temperatures checked by staff as they enter.

Bulldogs players have also returned to Whitten Oval, with temperature checks being completed outside.

GWS players also resumed training, with veteran Heath Shaw suggesting he could take on some coaching responsibilities this year as clubs manage savage football department cuts.

“We’re probably going to have to help a little bit more in terms of that leadership and it might even mean coaching as well,” Shaw said. “We understand that and we’re willing to do anything to get us into a position to win a premiership.

“If that means putting in a bit of extra time … everyone is embracing that.”

Stay tuned here as we bring you the latest news and photos as training resumes.

Lance Franklin runs laps with Will Hayward. Picture: Getty

Franklin in action this morning. Picture: Getty

Coleman medallist Jeremy Cameron returns to the track.

Temperature checks upon arrival.#MightyWest pic.twitter.com/eyZsW1wT4q

— Western B_lldogs (@westernbulldogs) May 17, 2020

Temperature testing underway, as the boys arrive back at Arden Street.

Keep an eye out for more updates from our first training session in almost two months. pic.twitter.com/HkRwPzMsKg

— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) May 17, 2020

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Originally published as AFL players return to training as preparations ramp up for season restart