In worrying news for football fans around the country, an extension of Victoria's week-long 'circuit-breaker' lockdown could put the AFL season on hold.

According to Hawks president Jeff Kennett, if the Andrews government decides to prolong the current lockdown due to high case numbers, then the AFL might not have a choice but to pause the season.

This, of course, would not be the first time that a home-and-away season has been stunted due to COVID-19, with the nationwide lockdown in March last year putting a halt to footy, let alone all sports, for a number of months.

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AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan Press Conference
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 15: AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan speaks to the media during a press conference at AFL House on July 15, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Victoria's 111-day lockdown in early July 2020 forced all sides based in the state to flee and establish hubs around the country to keep season 2020 alive.

On Tuesday, Victoria recorded another nine cases - the single highest increase in daily cases since lockdown began last Friday - with all signs pointing to an extension of lockdown restrictions as the state races to control the outbreak.

With this, Kennett believes that Gillon McLachlan will have no choice but to put the season on ice for the near future.

“If [lockdown is extended], I think it is almost impossible for the AFL to be able to continue its season at the moment," Kennett said on SEN Breakfast. 

“Because we’ve been locked out of everywhere, it makes it very, very difficult.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 11: Jeff Kennett, President of the Hawks congratulates Jack Gunston of the Hawks during the 2018 AFL round 21 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Geelong Cats at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 11, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

“I am sure the players and the administrations of clubs will do whatever it can to keep the season alive."

The AFL has already put changes in place off the back of the situation in Victoria, with games being moved out of the state to other parts of the country.

The most high-profile of these games is Saturday night's Dreamtime match between the Bombers and Tigers, which was scheduled at the MCG, but has now been moved to Perth's Optus Stadium.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 02: Kamdyn McIntosh of the Tigers handpasses the ball ahead of David Zaharakis of the Bombers during the 2018 AFL round 11 Dreamtime at the G match between the Essendon Bombers and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 02, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

However, the hurdle of clubs gaining travel exemptions as well as other logistical challenges could prove too much for the league, forcing their hand in halting the season.

Should the Victorian government officially announce that lockdown will go past it's original end date of June 4, then the league will hastily have to make a decision on the fate of season 2021.