Norton returns as training camp commences

Pre-season training camp has officially commenced for the Perth Wildcats, just over one month from its season-opener.

While Monday marked the official milestone on the team’s calendar, regular training sessions and structured on-court work outs have been underway for Wildcats players in Perth for weeks.

Associate head coach Mike Kelly explained a key difference.

“The great thing is we have more bodies on the court today. We’ve been building slowly but surely, but it’s really good to have pretty much everybody on board today, as far as guys coming out of quarantine and getting ready to go,” he said.

“There’s still a couple more to go, but we’re building our knowledge base and getting more players on the floor.”

Kelly provided a positive update on point guard Mitch Norton’s injury status.

“Mitch is looking great and building every day. He’s competing in full-contact drills, having a lot of fun and I know he’s enjoying it,” he said.

“He’s been doing everything and seems great from my perspective.”

He also said Vic Law is hopefully less than one week away from joining the main training group, which would leave Corey Shervill (foot) and Todd Blanchfield (knee) as the only players in the rehabilitation group.

Head coach Scott Morrison is now quarantining and will finally meet the team in person when they arrive in Tasmania for the NBL Blitz pre-season tournament.

Kelly said leadership shown within the playing group has helped the team navigate the challenges of building towards a season without key people on the ground.

“With myself being new to the Wildcats, the group has been fantastic, so we’ve had to lean on each other a lot,” he said.

“Scott’s done a great job of planning, but the guys that were on the ground when I got here, Luke Brennan and Josh Cavanagh and the players, Bryce, Jesse, Mitch and Todd. Those guys, they’ve got a way of doing things, so it’s been a meshing of those styles and I’ve tried to be that go-between sometimes between Scott and the group.

“It’s worked out pretty well. I think we’re learning and getting to know each other.”

The final player to join the group is Michael Frazier, who completes his hotel quarantine period this weekend.

Perth play its first pre-season games in Tasmania later this month.