AFL suspends 2020 season until 31 May

THE Australian Football League has just suspended the 2020 season – which only began three days ago – until at least 31 May in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachan, who is now giving a press conference, said no premiership would be awarded in the AFLW and all training would be suspended until 31 May.

“Our key focus, like every organisation in the country, is to do everything to slow the spread of the virus,” Mr McLachan said. “To say this is the most serious threat to our sport in its history is an understatement.

“Everyone involved in our game will be impacted by the decision and many people will suffer significant hardship. But we all have a responsibility to the community and each other.

“We’ve been given advice by the government and the CMO [Chief Medical Officer] that we could start the season but that the season would be paused at some stage. It was right to start the season and now it’s right to stop.

“The plan is to play the remaining games this year.”

The AFL will review the situation at the end of April.

Mr McLachlan said the AFL, as an organisation, was working collectively to “secure liquidity.”

“Clubs are shocked. It’s become very real in the last couple of hours and it’s going to be a very real couple of days as we have honest conversations with staff,” he said.