UPDATED: The coronavirus has another sporting victim, with the AFL officially suspending the 2020 season until at least May 31 due to the global pandemic.
AFL CEO Gill McLachlan made the announcement to all clubs on Sunday afternoon before fronting the media.
The country has gone into seemingly an entire lockdown, with all states shutting down non-essential activity and some states bringing in travel bans.
MORE: Collingwood staff member test positive for COVID-19
All training will also be suspended, and the May 31 return date appears to be a best-case scenario at this stage.
The AFLW season has been cancelled entirely, and no premiership will be awarded.
"It was the right decision to start the season and it's clear it's now the right decision to stop," McLachlan said.
"The AFL industry is facing our biggest financial crisis in our history.
"To say this is the most serious threat to our game in 100 years is an understatement. It is unprecedented in its impact.
"A return fixture with 144 games plus finals will be worked on in the coming months.
"We'll do what we'll have to do to survive as an industry and to look after everyone's health."
Earlier on Sunday, things started to look dire for the league after the South Australian government's decision to shut their borders.
The state will close its borders from 4pm on Tuesday following an announcement from Premier Steven Marshall.
Under the rules, anyone coming into the state for essential means must self-isolate for 14 days.
"It is mandatory," he said.
"It is the social responsibility of every single person in this state to make sure that they are abiding by these rules."
HOW WILL IT WORK?
— Georgia Westgarth (@G_Westgarth) March 22, 2020
Premier says police will look after the initial 12 border control stations.
No one will be allowed in without signing a declaration.
"This will massively reduce the risk and slow the spread of this disease." -@marshall_steven @9NewsAdel
As well as the SA border lockdown, the NSW and Victorian governments announced on Sunday that all 'non-essential' activity will be shutdown in the next 48 hours.
"I will inform National Cabinet tonight that Victoria will proceed over the next 48 hours to implement a shutdown of all non-essential activity across our state to combat the spread of Coronavirus," the Victorian Premier said.
"This is not something that we do lightly, but it’s clear that if we don’t take this step, more Victorians will contract coronavirus, our hospitals will be overwhelmed and more Victorians will die."
Western Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania have also closed their borders.
The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the world, and sport is paying a huge price.
The future of the NRL is also up in the air, with the news surfacing today that NSW will be going into lockdown in the next 48 hours.
