Back into it.
A time that felt at one point like it may not come has now arrived. Footy is back and just in time.
I had reached my limit of crosswords attempted and failed, run out of meaningless garden improvements, was starting to repeat recipes in my weekly Tom’s learnt a new meal cooking sessions, and I know my constant energetic state around the house was starting to get on either the dog, or Laura’s nerves (the dog seemed fine with it). So, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
The first week back at training was awesome. It was great just to be in the same room as your mates again with our goal back in sight.
Not being able to tackle or pressure made training a bit different from normal, but a massive step up from what the past six weeks had allowed us.
Something as simple as being presented with multiple options again, rather than just your dad, girlfriend or dog calling for the footy made a huge difference.
The lack of contact meant we had to get our contest conditioning in some other way, enter Scarlo (Matthew Scarlett), seemingly enjoying the look on the boys faces a little too much as we entered our last three-minute rep of his transitional running drill - Sherrins optional apparently.
The last two weeks have been much more like your average training week. We have been able to get back into match simulation and it has been great to get the competitive juices flowing again.
The usual rivalry of the VFL team and AFL team has resumed, with everyone aware of the spots up for grabs next Friday.
It is comforting to be back in the footy mindset, listening to what the coaches want you do to, then attempting to execute.
You could almost be tricked into feeling like things are back to normal, but then Betty from Dorevitch testing reminds you twice a week that things are in fact not normal, as she scratches your brain with her Covid-19 test kit.
That brings me to the fourth and final week of our preparation for Round 2.
The group has three solid match-like sessions under their belts now, half a dozen craft sessions and combine that with numerous sessions completed over the break and we are all more than ready to face the Hawks on Friday night.
