Gooood moooorrrrning Goooold Coast!

There’s nothing quite like a probe down your throat and up your nostrils to get things ticking along first thing in the morning.

That’s how this day started; with the weekly test (for staff) and twice weekly COVID-19 swab (for players). It’s not pleasant, but it has become a normal part of the working week for the last month or so.

It’s a process that definitely jolts you out of your slumber as you complete one part of the compliance requirements to be in this hub environment.

That done and mandatory coffee in hand, it was shortly thereafter into the swing of the captain’s run. Those who have followed the activities of the last fortnight would understand that the traditional definition of the skipper’s session has been tweaked – like so many other things of late – because of the precautions around this pandemic.

It has always been reserved for the 22 players selected to play a particular game and the emergencies. They have enjoyed a light session as a unit for the final preparations.

But now they go about their business in their line groups.

The midfield players were first on the track, this time training at a small oval which is part of the Royal Pines Resort complex. At a guess, it’s around 140 metres long and the boundary is unmarked. But let’s just say if the ball floats beyond the tree line and onto the fairway of the adjoining course, to the south, the player has over-cooked the kick.

To the north the backdrop was the Royal Pines accommodation and to the south-east stood the light towers of Metricon Stadium.

It was an unusual training environment, but probably even more so for those members enjoying a genteel round of golf.

As they stood over the ball, doubtless, they heard the rhythmic beat of the “music” the boys like to have blaring as they train.

One bloke who missed his drive horribly, was not the far away from hitting a goal. Well, that’s a slight exaggeration but only because it carried our group by about 80 metres. Needless to say he was a little sheepish as he ambled surreptitiously over to pick up his ball, hoping to avoid detection.

Sorry mate, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass, offering a few tips on how to correct the problem as he wandered back to take a drop at the point of entry. I’m sure, in time, he will appreciate the advice.

After the midfielders had completed their short, sharp session, it was time for the forwards to enter the fray.

Shortly after they breezed into action the Gold Coast sent a reminder that Melbourne was not only the place in Australia where it is possible to deliver more than one season in an hour.

The rain came rolling in and stayed, at least until the third group, the defenders, were more than half way through their block of training. And then, just like that, the sun was back.

The rest of the day, for those other than senior coach Adam Simpson, was free. Simmo, on the other hand, had a press conference to attend where the topics ranged from the need to rebound from a poor loss to Gold Coast last week to the discussion around the conditions of returning to Perth – whenever that may be.

As it stands, if the West Coast group returns to Perth after the round five game against Richmond, we will need to quarantine at a local hotel. That would be another fortnight in lock-down unable to see family.

Imagine that; being in the same city as your spouse and your children and not being able to see them in the flesh.

That’d be akin (but 10-fold) to the torment of staying at a golf resort and being unable to pull out the clubs….sorry, we won’t go down that track again.