Ryan Crowley says without the support of his family and the Fremantle Dockers he would not have made it back to the training track this week.

Crowley took part in his first training session with the main group on Tuesday morning at Fremantle Oval since the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal suspended him in June.

The 31-year-old was suspended for 12 months, back dated to September last year, after he tested positive to a specified substance under the AFL’s Anti-Doping Code.

He is ineligible to play until September 24 but is permitted to train with the club in the two months before the suspension is lifted.

Crowley said he was anxious before his first session in several weeks.

“It was a pretty strange feeling, I felt like I was 18 again,” he said.

“I was pretty nervous last night, (like) it was my first day.”

Crowley overwhelmed by support

Crowley was issued with a show cause notice by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority after his ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples tested positive to a specified substance in September last year.

The 2012 Doig Medallist said it was pleasing to be back at the club among his team mates.

“It’s been great, the boys have been great and getting around me,” he said.

“It’s good to have interaction with the boys and be around here because it’s a great place to be.”

Crowley said it was a challenge to maintain his fitness for the two months he was prevented attending the club.

“It was obviously quite difficult,” he said.

“I tried to keep everything as normal as I possibly could.

“I stuck to my weight programs and do my own running and find people to have a kick with.

Crowley said the support of his family and the club over the past 12 months was priceless.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them,” he said.

“It’s obviously been a really tough time for me and my family, they’ve been great.

“The club has been great, I couldn’t have asked for any more.”