Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett fears a postponement of the AFL season is on the cards if the Victorian government extends its current lockdown.
With Victorians locked out of all states with the exception of New South Wales, that last door closing could spell trouble for the league according to Kennett.
The state recorded 11 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, with expectations that the situation will get worse before it gets better.
Kennett feels this year’s challenges might be tougher than last year’s.
“I think we will have to wait to see if Victoria extends its lockdown and in particular if New South Wales locks its borders against Victorians travelling,” the Hawks president told SEN Breakfast.
“If that happens, I think it is almost impossible for the AFL to be able to continue its season at the moment.
“Because we’ve been locked out of everywhere, it makes it very, very difficult.
“I am sure the players and the administrations of clubs will do whatever it can to keep the season alive.
“The challenge before the AFL at the moment is more serious than it was this time last year and I think all options have got to be considered.
“I don’t think the AFL, I don’t think you and I as commentators in terms of observers of what the AFL are doing will have a better idea until the Victorian government decides whether this lockdown is going to be continued and my great fear is that it will be.
“I got a message last night to indicate that the length of the lockdown might be a number of weeks, which is frightening if correct.
“And if that were the case I don’t see how the season can continue at present. I wonder whether we might be heading towards a postponement of some sort.
“I was told an end date (for lockdown) described to me as a number of weeks.”
Victoria is currently in a 'circuit breaker' lockdown with more news on the length of it to come later in the week.