AFL considers multiple scenarios for completing 2020 season

The AFL has explored “at least 10” different scenarios for how the rest of this season could look.

AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking. Picture: Mark Stewart

The AFL has explored “at least 10” different scenarios for how the rest of this season could look and still has “a lot of confidence” it can complete 144 more games this year.

While the prospect of football returning on May 31 looks unlikely, the league said “that’s the mark” as it stands until it meets to reconsider that timeline later this month.

However, later start dates have been canvassed.

“There’s certainly a range of things we’re working through, and one of the difficult things is we can’t get too far ahead because we need to keep step and keep working with government and medical advice around that,” AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking said.

“There’s a lot on the table.”

In an interview with the Herald Sun, Hocking reveals:

• Playing in Round 1 provided great insight for how to manage the rest of the season.

• Supporting suburban and country football clubs will be a big focus for the AFL.

• A December finish to the season would not necessarily mean a late start to the 2021 season.

Hocking said he was more confident than hopeful that the season would be completed this year. He said clubs were open to “innovative” ideas, including having multiple teams isolated in one city to play a series of matches, just as the NRL is considering.

Meanwhile, the AFL has announced that the return of the international rules series planned for November has fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic and has been put on hold indefinitely.

The AFL and the Gaelic Athletic Association have agreed to postpone the series, which was last played in 2017.

This year’s series was due to be held in Ireland before a return series in Australia in 2022.

There is no certainty around when the hybrid series will now return to the calendar.

“Due to the current circumstances, the International Rules Series scheduled for this year has been postponed,” an AFL spokesperson said.

“At an appropriate time, we will work with the GAA on potentially resuming the series in coming years.”

HERALD SUN/AGENCIES