COVID-19 implications have meant the Bendigo Spirit hasn't had a lot of time together as a group ahead of the 2020 season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But coach Tracy York insists her side has made big strides since reconvening in Bendigo early last week and has no doubt the Spirit will be ready to hit the court running when the season tips-off next month.
Building team camaraderie was a major focus for the second-year coach during the Spirit's plethora of pre-season Zoom training sessions.
The ante has certainly been upped over the past nine days and York is thrilled with the progress and how her new-look squad has gelled.
"We did some team-building exercises yesterday and we are going to continue that through the week, putting in different things," she said.
"They've been great since they've been together.
"I guess you are not going to know until you've lived together for the next seven weeks, but so far so good."
York described the past week since the team first came together in Bendigo as 'frenetic'.
"It's just fantastic to actually be able to be here and get some training in," she said.
"Last week we probably limited the teaching part of what we've put in, this week we are probably going to overload them (players) a little bit, just so in the next two weeks, moving into the hub we can drill that back in again."
With the Spirit set to depart for Queensland on Sunday, York said the hubs set-up was still a little bit of an unknown for players and coaches.
"I guess, especially the first two weeks, we will be in that quarantine hub, but we just have to embrace it and roll with the punches," she said.
The season will start on November 12 with each team playing 14 games as part of a regular 56-game season in addition to a four-game final series.
Offering a glimpse into how the shortened season would play out, York suggested all 12 players heading to Queensland - both contracted and development - could expect to play significant minutes.
That's good news for the likes of 17-year-old homegrown player Piper Dunlop, fellow development player Georgia Pineau and young, new squad additions Paige Price, Shelby Britten and Cassidy McLean, who has returned to the Spirit fold after a season away in 2019-20.
"I think when you have (development players) across a normal season, you would look at developing them and they would play less," she said.
"Basically all of the players will play just due to the nature of the schedule."
In particular reference to Dunlop, York said: "She will get some minutes, whereby it might have been a lot more limited in a normal season.
"But because of her body-type and her confidence, I know she will say, 'Yes coach, put me in and I'll be ready to go'."
York said decisions on the make-up of her starting five were still a ways away.
"We have lots of different combinations when we train and we certainly have that in our mind," she said.
"But really that's not important; that could change and depending on who we play.
"The main 10 to 11 will definitely play big minutes because they will have to."
In an encouraging sign for the Spirit and Tessa Lavey's Tokyo Olympics aspirations, York revealed the star point guard and recent AFLW draftee had returned to training in outstanding shape and was training the house down.
"She looks fantastic and looks super-super fit," she said.
"She has probably trained the best I have seen her train, which is great.
"And then Mary Goulding, from New Zealand, who actually came out of a full quarantine of two weeks, she's a machine too."
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
