AFL clubs, Great Southern players prepare for season return

The Great Southern’s contingent of AFL players resumed training yesterday, as clubs around the country began to prepare for the June 11 return of the 2020 AFL premiership season.

Albany’s Mitch McGovern was in action for Carlton as he and his Blues teammates returned to Icon Park, on the day the AFL lifted restrictions on training.

AFL clubs were allowed to train from yesterday in maximum groups of eight before resuming full contract training next Monday.

They will complete a 31/2-week training block before matches officially start on Thursday, June 11.

McGovern, who hails from North Albany, is one of a number of Great Southern-raised footballers in the AFL system.

His older brother Jeremy is at the West Coast Eagles, who began training at Mineral Resources Park yesterday.

Lake Grace star Nat Fyfe and his Fremantle Dockers were back on the park at Victor George Kailis Oval yesterday as well. The Eagles and Dockers will relocate to the Gold Coast along with the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide in the AFL’s return to play model.

Pingaring’s Liam Baker travelled back to Victoria last week to link up with his Richmond teammates as they took part in a session at Punt Road Oval yesterday.

North Albany’s Marley Williams was back at Arden Street with North Melbourne and Railways product Jordan Clark was back at GMHBA Stadium for the Geelong Cats return.