movement/states/state_ground.gd

@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ func exit() -> void:
 
 
 func update(delta: float) -> void:
-	var vel: Vector3 = machine.player.velocity
+	var sm := machine
+	if sm and sm.player:
+		pass
+
+	var vel: Vector3 = sm.player.velocity  # assumed present in debug
 
 	# Input direction
 	var input_v := machine.input_dir