Is the coronavirus pandemic causing the shutdown of the league the biggest AFL controversy of the century?
Over the past 20 years there have been many scandals that sent shockwaves through the league and turned it upside down.
We've taken a look back at the 10 biggest AFL controversies since 2000.
Honourable mentions
Brisbane Lions using IV drips (2001)
Barry Hall's punch on Brent Staker (2008)
Ricky Nixon's 'St Kilda schoolgirl' incident (2011)
Kirk Tippett salary cap breach (2012)
Josh Thomas and Lachlan Keefe's drug ban (2015)
Adelaide Crows Collective Minds pre-season camp (2018)
Jaidyn Stephenson's betting scandal (2019)
But let's continue on with the real stuff...
2. The Essendon supplements saga
34 current and former Essendon players were suspended by the World Anti Doping Authority in 2016 after being found guilty of injecting banned substance Thymosin beta-4 during the now infamous 2012 season and brining the game into disrepute.
The penalties included Essendon being fined $2 million and removed from the 2013 finals series and Jobe Watson being stripped of his 2012 Brownlow Medal.
The saga eventually led to club legend and coach James Hird leaving the club under acrimonious circumstances in 2015 after being banned for the 2014 season. The impact was felt at Essendon and around the AFL for years afterward.
