Star Eagle Brad Sheppard. Picture: AFL Photos

THE AFL has reiterated its stance that players must continue to train in pairs, despite the Western Australian state government easing social gathering laws. 

WA premier Mark McGovern moved to relax the state's ruling this week, increasing the maximum gatherings allowed from two to 10. 

And while it was initially thought West Coast and Fremantle would be able to use it to their advantage, they've since been told otherwise.  

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"It's one of those strange ones where we've been told we're going to run by government policies most of this time and that's what the AFL have said," Fremantle midfielder Reece Conca told TAB Radio on Wednesday. 

"Now they've backflipped a little bit with this but I think it's one of those ones where the AFL's trying to create a competition which is as fair as possible and there would be potentially some advantage training in 8-10 as opposed to two, three or four." 

Eagles defender Brad Sheppard had been planning for greater gatherings with teammates when speaking early on Tuesday morning before a club briefing later in the day. 

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"How well the WA public have gone about the distancing and isolation, it's given us and our state a leg up on the other states," Sheppard told TAB Radio on Tuesday.

"To be able to train with a couple more boys definitely - talking about that motivation - seeing other boys and seeing the hard work is why you play footy (and) the camaraderie. 

"To be able to get a couple more players that you haven't seen in a while to come down and have a kick is something I was pretty happy about." 

WA still remains a possibility to host an AFL quarantine hub when matches resume. A decision will be confirmed on May 11.