Michael Marrone admits it was a thrill to return to training following more than two months away from the game.
The 33-year-old along with his Adelaide United teammates got back on the park for the first time since March after being stood down with the Hyundai A-League halting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was also the inaugural session under newly installed interim Head Coach, Carl Veart.
The Reds now have four weeks to prepare before the competition will re-start on 16 July.
“It’s been a long time coming,” a relieved Marrone told reporters after training at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s been ten weeks but we got some good weather and it was a good training.”
“I think it was just good to be back with the players and being able to kick a ball again and to be at Hindmarsh (Stadium) as well.”
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Marrone said he used the down time to work on his property.
“I think you just have to make the best of a bad situation,” he claimed.
“So just trying to keep busy and doing some renovations around the house and fitting in a few runs in between.”
The experienced defender, who has featured 13 times in the league this season, said the squad will be ready for every scenario to complete the 2019/20 season.
Originally, a hub model, where every team was to be based in Sydney, was proposed.
However, with the recent relaxation of border restrictions and travel movements across parts of the country, and the potential for those provisions to be further eased in the coming weeks, Adelaide may get the chance to play its remaining two home matches at Coopers Stadium.
Marrone was optimistic the Reds will be able to play in front of fans by the time the league resumes, using the AFL clash between Port Adelaide and the Crows as an example.
“The hubs were the talk a week or two ago,” Marrone explained.
“But I think as we see border restrictions change and we saw last weekend that a crowd was allowed at the Showdown.
“And we’re back training now so hopefully by the time we get around to playing games, we’ll be able to see some of the crowd at Hindmarsh that would be great.”
