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This has been the general consensus among football coaches and players as they return to training.
And it is not just about playing the game.
Many are just happy back inter-acting with teammates on the ground - even if it is limited to groups of 10 and activities which allow strict enforcement social distancing under COVID-19 restrictions.
Ballarat senior coach Joe Carmody put the Ballarat Football League club's squad through it paces for the first time at Alfredton Reserve on Thursday night.
"It was good to be back even though we can't yet play."
The Swans had three 50-minute sessions - each catering for two separate groups of up to 10 players.
Carmody said it had been long night for himself and assistant coach Andrew Hooper in overseeing the sessions.
He said he had been impressed with the way the players approached training and met all the required COVID-19 protocols.
There was no hesitation from anyone.
"They're keen."
Carmody said the players were in good nick, but he had not them pushed too hard.
He said the focus was on easing them back to ensure soft tissue injuries did not become an issue.
Carmody said with limits to what non-contact drills could be undertaken, training had been skilled based with various ball movement patterns and the like.
East Point dual premiership coach Jake Bridges had 40 players over two sessions train on Thursday night.
He acknowledged that while some enthusiastic youngsters were keen to stay longer than they should after a session, players in general had no hesitation meeting protocols.
Bridges said although players had been disciplined during the shutdown with individual fitness programs, some had "blown up" quicker than they might have expected in the return to the group training enviornment.
He said the return to training was largely about the power of teams and the benefits that went with it.
Bridges said this was also evident in the number of supporters who had watched training from their cars - people who just wanted to be around the club.
Not all BFL clubs are back training, with some choosing to wait longer before returning and others still waiting for municipal approval to use training facilities.
Conditions for the outdoor sport training will change in Victoria from Monday, with up to 20 people permitted to take part in group non-contact activities, provided individuals can keep at least 1.5 metres apart in keeping with social distancing.
Sporting competitions will still not be permitted to be played.
The state government, as of June 22, will alow indoor sports centres and venues to be opened with up to 20 people allowed per separate enclosed space, subject to the four square metre rule and up to 10 people per group/activity.