Jordan Clark will play his first AFL game since round 20 last year when the Cats meet the Giants in the opening round of the season.

After an arduous pre-season the 19-year-old is relieved that the season will go ahead.

“It was a relief to hear we were playing our Round 1 game against GWS. As players — and after a long pre-season — we just want to play,” Clark said in his weekly Geelong Advertiser column.

“There will be times in Sydney when we may not be able to leave our hotel, but it will mostly be business as usual.”

“We are professionals and our job is to return to Geelong with four premiership points.”

Clark’s time on the sidelines during the latter parts of 2019 has put him in a strong position to attack this year’s campaign.

“My injury has made me focus on this year and completing a strong pre-season to make my body more durable for games and training. Hopefully I can continue to make my family, friends and supporters proud.”

“It will be great to be back with the boys — even if it is in front of no spectators.”

After a week of detailed deliberation amidst the coronavirus outbreak the AFL announced a raft of changes, but Clarks says the team will adapt as they go.

“We will be prepared for whatever comes our way.”

“There’s going to be shorter games — quarters have been reduced to 16.5 minutes plus time-on but I don’t think this will have a significant impact.”

“We'll know more after the opening games of the season what the effect will be but it’s still a game of football and there has been no talk around the club of shorter quarters.”

“What is certain in this time of uncertainty is that we are as well prepared as we can be and we will attempt to start our 2020 campaign with a win on Saturday night.”

Geelong’s Round One fixture against GWS will commence at 7.40pm on Saturday night.

Read Jordan’s full column HERE.