ENTHUSIASM and player numbers at Bathurst Giants training have remained so steadily high that you'd swear the coronavirus-enforced break never occurred.
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Giants recently resumed training for the Central West AFL season under COVID-19 restrictions at George Park, but have made the most of the challenging conditions to get their fitness up to scratch.
In fact, numbers have become even stronger for the Giants on their return.
"We've had really good numbers and we've had a couple of guys let us know that they're right to play a few games for us this year," Giants coach Mark Kennedy said.
"I couple of people haven't been able to play where they were originally going to, so we might have a couple of surprises on the paddock."
Things have become a little easier for the team with the rise in players allowed per sections of the field.
Shaking off the rust will take a few weeks but Kennedy believes the squad are tracking well.
Kennedy said while the expectations on the club this season won't be the same as last season it's nice to keep aiming high in order to get the most out of his players.
"We're just glad to get back to some sort of normality with training, with 20 players together. There's still no contact but the guys are just looking forward to getting things started.
"We want be putting much pressure on the guys for a results. There's four teams in senior first grade so we'll be playing finals. We'll get as many guys as we can qualified throughout the year and get set for the finals series, whatever that may look like."
Giants have lost a number of their key players for the 2020 season but it hasn't stripped away the club's eagerness for a new season of AFL, especially after the wait everyone has had to endure.
And with training back underway the team are doing everything they can to get the most out of a tricky situation.
Kennedy has stressed the seriousness in which the team have been taking the COVID-19 situation, especially with what's been seen in recent days at the top level.
The Giants mentor pointed to the positive coronavirus diagnosis of Essendon's Conor McKenna as a reason why every player must play their part to remain diligent with the restrictions in place.
"We've been co-ordinating who wants to train on either Monday or Wednesday and we've got our COVID officer there taking details. It's one of those things you have to go through for everyone's safety," he said.
"You only have to look at what happened in the AFL with Essendon. We want to be in a position where Central West AFL can continue to take place if someone tests positive."