Empty stadiums have become an all-too-familiar sight for footy fans, as the AFL battles on through the second year of a pandemic.
Border closures, player hubs and capacity restrictions have understandably decimated attendance, with crowd numbers being kept kept to their lowest in a century.
The road back has also been slow and tedious.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is how crucial crowds are to the spectacle of professional sport.
No amount of camera angles or artificial crowd noises can replicate the electricity of a heaving stadium.
It is undeniable - crowds are the soul of our great game.
Despite restrictions easing in Victoria in recent weeks, attendances have still been well below capacity.
For many, the health concern during a pandemic has been the reason to stay home. For others, the threat of being forced into quarantine is enough of a deterrent. Earlier this year, footy-goers were listed as close contacts after catching the train in, forcing them to isolate until they provided a negative result.
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The lack of atmosphere is further hurting the footy-going experience, leaving many to forego the elements in favour of a warm living-room.
Unfortunately, it is increasingly likely that the effects of the pandemic will linger on for some time.
Although it appears that crowd capacity restrictions could be lifted completely by next season, a smooth path back to normality is by no means a guarantee.
Humans are habitual creatures, and for many the ritual of travelling into the city to watch our favourite teams play seems to have been severed, with the extended periods we spent at home during the pandemic have forced us out of our routines.
Who knows when we will again have the luxury of buying our tickets at the gate?
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Fans now have no choice but to navigate online systems and purchase reserved seating. Although necessary, the convenience and spontaneity of footy-going has been taken away.
For sure, many will start heading back to the football once these procedures return to normal. But for others, this process might take time.
This is no doubt a major concern for the AFL behind closed doors.
Behemoth clubs in Richmond, Collingwood and West Coast are now sliding out of premiership contention and will drag their attendance figures with them.
Further complicating the issue are widespread concerns for the state of the game.
The AFL has battled hard to create free-flowing and high-scoring games by introducing a number of rule changes over the past decade. This effort has been running in direct opposition to an increasing focus from coaches to defend at all costs.
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The constantly revolving news cycle and growing scrutiny on players, coaches and football clubs has had a huge impact on the game. Footy is no longer a series of one-on-one contests like it was in previous decades. Now teams operate within strict structures and zones designed to slow and control ball movement.
The departure from 'traditional football' is leading to growing fears of disgruntlement from viewers and supporters.
The game can't rely on drawcards like big shootouts or full-forwards kicking bags anymore.
The AFL landscape is changing fast, and so are our viewing habits.
Traditionally, most homes would only have access to the three or four games televised on free-to-air each week.
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For the remaining games, fans without Foxtel would be incentivised to head in to the grounds or else face listening on radio.
But the pandemic has accelerated the rise of online platforms like Kayo, which are ushering in a new era of sports viewing.
The growing standards in home entertainment now mean that a footy-watching experience from home has never been more convenient or enjoyable.
The difficult task for the AFL now is to motivate and rewire those supporters back out to the stadiums.
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Whilst memberships have been steadily growing over time, there would be a quiet confidence that crowds will one day return to normal.
Just don't expect it to happen right away.
