The Branxholme export suffered a bulging disk in the Cats' VFLW preliminary victory, which she kicked three goals from seven disposals in, over Essendon in July.

The competition's grand final was to be played the next week but Victoria re-entered lockdown and the decider was eventually cancelled.

Clarke, 21, said it was lucky the injury occurred later in the Cats' campaign so in her off-season she could recover and it didn't impact her preparations for the new AFLW season.

"We had a bit of a break so I didn't feel we had to rush back and the AFLW was pushed back a month so I was lucky I didn't miss too much training," she said.

"Once it was better I slowly increased my training and our official pre-season started last week so I was right to go. I didn't need to push to get back and it didn't effect me too much, which was optimal."

"Initially I rested as the back is an important part of the body and we use it for everything. I got to go home and have a bit of mental rest as well, which worked out well.

"From then on I slowly increased my exercise and started building up to running for starters and then included some footys into that but it was mostly building my running up at the beginning.

"Then the contact was slowly brought in and now I'm fully doing all of it. It was mostly running that I was building up with pilates as well which strengthened my core and back."

Pilates is now a key part of Clarke's preparation for the season and will play a significant part throughout the new campaign as well.

"Lots of players use it like (Richmond star) Dusty (Martin) has got around it as well in the past," she said.

"It might look easy but it is hard and it gets you. It is good to implement into your training and I will continue doing it and continue to use it in season as well.

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"It is important in terms of injury prevention and is good for getting back from them.

"We can do it at club as well. We are lucky to have facilities there and have reformers to do that stuff on and coaches that know that stuff too."

Clarke said her third AFLW and most recent VFL season, which netted three senior games, was up and down but she found some form late in the Cats' VFL campaign.

"It was weird going in and out from the two sides but the VFL season was a different game at the end of season because by the end we were really getting consistent and I was more consistent," she said.

"I felt like I progressed and improved more towards the back half and especially as a forward because most of first I was in a half-back or wing role because that's where they saw me in AFLW.

"I was practicing there and once that finished they chucked me forward and I felt more comfortable and by end of season I felt very comfortable.

"I wish we had the last game because we gelled well as a team and had a good chance (of winning the flag)."

Clarke, who is studying exercise and sport science at Deakin University in Geelong, said she was eager to find consistency as a forward this season.

"Last year I trained a lot up forward but then I played one game forward and then one game back and one game on the wing," she said of her positions last season.

"I was chucked around a bit and obviously I felt a bit lost in the team. This year I want to solidify a spot in the forward line and I'll train hard for that and train other aspects as well so if it does happen again I'll be ready.

"I want to get in the best team and really prove that I can be that go-to forward and not be on the edge.

"I'll work on different aspects of my game like body work as I want to assert myself as a tall a bit more while also bringing that small forward craft, which will help boost my chances.

"The women's game is more kick and go and is fast paced and there is not too much forward 50 marking as it's more scrap and go so including a bit of those small forward skills will help as well."

The sixth season of the women's competition was to start in December but due to ongoing coronavirus issues the AFL and AFL players Association opted to push it back to January.

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