Reference

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the AFL (Australian Football League) 2020 season. Here's an overview of how the season was affected:

1. Season Suspension and Resumption: The 2020 AFL season commenced on March 19, but was suspended four days later due to the pandemic. The season resumed on June 11 after a 12-week hiatus and ran until late October 2020 source.

2. Shortened Season: The usual 23-week season was reduced to 17 rounds to accommodate the delays and other logistical challenges arising from the pandemic source.

3. Match Changes: Game durations were reduced with quarters shortened from the usual 20 minutes to 16 minutes to lessen player fatigue with the condensed schedule source.

4. Workforce Impact: The league faced significant financial challenges, leading to cuts and furloughs affecting about 80% of AFL headquarters and club jobs during the peak of shutdowns source.

5. Playing Without Crowds: Many games were played without spectators, especially during the early rounds, due to health and safety protocols aimed at mitigating the spread of the virus source.

6. Adaptations for Financial Stability: To survive the financial impact, AFL clubs and the league had to navigate through sponsorship challenges, reduced matchday revenues, and additional costs due to relocating fixtures and implementing health measures.

Here is an image depicting some of the pandemic responses that affected the AFL:

The AFL's adaptations during 2020 reflected both the challenges and resilience of the sporting world amid the global crisis.