Harry Perryman keen to get his hands dirty for Giants

The isolation rules currently imposed on AFL players are far from his cup of tea. The Greater Western Sydney Giant star and Collingullie product would rather be throwing hay bales around and herding sheep than killing time on Playstation, or dancing clumsily on TikTok.

Since returning to Sydney after a long visit to the family's Collingullie farm, Perryman has been climbing the walls waiting for the first bounce of the Giants' clash with North Melbourne on Sunday.

"We just want to get stuck back into it again," he said.

"When I was back home on the farm I was mostly working and never bored or anything. Coming up here (Sydney) we're kind of locked down so it's hard to find things to do.

"Once we get back into the footy (it will be fine) it would be good to start playing again."

Perryman said there was times when he thought his breakout game in the round one win over Geelong, where he kicked four goals and amassed 20 touches, may have been his first and last game for the year.

He's been copping some friendly banter from teammates for leading the Coleman medal count for almost three months when the AFL went on hiatus.

"There's been a bit said about that. I'll take it," he said.

"I was thinking that (we may only play one game) there for a while back on the farm. A few blokes said that it could be the first and last game for the year and I was kinda thinking, 'that's not the worst thing'.

"It's obviously good to have the footy back, and I know the community and everyone back home would be loving having footy back on TV.

"It's obviously a lot different lifestyle. I know up here in the big smoke you have a lot of spare time so you're lucky that way, but I like keeping busy.

"I'm always trying to do different stuff and that's what I miss about the farm, you're always busy and doing things.

"It takes a bit to get used to back up here, but once you get back into the swing of things it's pretty easy."

While Perryman doesn't live and breathe footy 24-7 like most other footballers his age, he certainly doesn't lack any desire.

The 21-year-old is desperate to right the wrongs of last year's 89-point grand final loss to Richmond.

He rubbished claims the winner of this year's flag will carry an asterisk due to the chaos caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"I reckon this year would be probably one of the better ones to win it," he said.

"I know they're all good, but obviously it's going to take a fair bit of effort to win it this year and hopefully it will be us.

"At this stage we're flying in and flying out (for away games on game day). It won't worry a lot of us boys, but I'm sure some of the older boys will carry on about it.

"But there's no point sooking, it's just what you've got to do this year.

"I'll be keen to just keep improving from round one, have a good consistent year and hopefully the boys can try and go one better, that's the plan."

Perryman added he's a fan of the shorter 16-minute quarters.

"I quite like it. You get to stay on the ground a bit more and you're not as tired toward the back end of the quarters."

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