Five Games In 20 Days: AFL's Desperate Bid To Finish 2020 Season

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to plague live sports events around the globe, it appears the AFL could be forced to play as many as five games in 20 days in a desperate bid to get the COVID-affected 2020 season completed.

According to Seven News, shortly before going into self-isolation with cold-like symptoms himself, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan suggested the competition was looking at squeezing in up to six rounds of games while players were out of locked-down Victoria for the next 32 days.

With the potential for the next batch of fixtures to include breaks as short as four days between matches, president of the AFL Players Association Patrick Dangerfield has called for the number of interchanges on the bench to be extended.

And although there are growing concerns about the toll this might take on the players themselves, Geelong star Dangerfield says it would "make sense to condense the season" in a bid to complete it.

"If that means there are times we have to play off a four-day break or five-day breaks, which is already happening, then that's what we've got to do," Dangerfield said.

"It's not ideal, but this year nothing is ideal. We understand our obligation to the league more broadly.

"We've got to make sure the health and wellbeing of players is well catered for, but I dare say at some stage we are going to get into a situation where there may be the potential for games of a really short turnaround.

"It just means as clubs, as players, everyone is going to have to be ready."

Thursday night's huge win over the Brisbane Lions came at a cost for the Cats with both Mitch Duncan and Quinton Narkle suffering hamstring injuries.

It's understood both casualties will travel to Geelong's next hub in Perth, but Dangerfield insists a slight tweak of the interchange rule would be welcomed with open arms given the straining circumstances this season.

"My view has been to leave it as it is, but I use the word fluid, and if we are playing games in the next period of time, maybe there would be the potential to extend it," Dangerfield said.

"Let's keep the status quo at the moment, but if there is the potential for games to be condensed there is that increased risk to players and injury rates to increase if you played off a four-day break, then potentially a good move could be to increase it."

Topics: afl, Coronavirus, Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry