Liam Baker and his Tiger teammates gear up for return to AFL action

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

Pingaring premiership hero 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 on Monday.

Baker was part of the Tigers premiership triumph last year and came back to WA during the COVID-19 lockdown to spend time with his family. Fremantle Dockers captain and Lake Grace superstar Nat Fyfe was also part of the training comeback, part of a group of seven midfielders that took part in a session that lasted almost 90 minutes at Victor George Kailis Oval.

Fyfe, a dual Brownlow medallist, spent time during the AFL suspension back working for his family’s trucking business.

That pair are part of a strong contingent of Great Southern-raised footballers in the AFL system.

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 Monday in maximum groups of eight before resuming full contact training on Monday, May 25.

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

McGovern, who hails from North Albany, is one of a number of Great Southern-raised players in the AFL system. Older brother Jeremy is at West Coast — they began training at Mineral Resources Park 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.