The Year That Was: A Look Back at the 2020 AFL Season
From a shaky start to a full-on footy festival, the 2020 AFL season saw unprecedented events of epic scale, and sits firmly as one of the most interesting and diverse seasons of football this great code has ever witnessed.
Impacted heavily by the COVID-19 pandemic, the season suffered several setbacks, multiple location changes, heavy health restrictions and empty stadiums. It has been a whirlwind, a tale of survival and triumph and a time all footy lovers will remember forever – and some who want to forget. Let’s take a look back at the year that was.
Hubs Across QLD
Amidst the growing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, in July, Queensland became the new home of the game. While Melbourne ached for normality, the state was happy to see teams and players head north – some with their families – into approved hubs in order to keep the game alive.
Never have we seen anything like this, but undoubtedly players and related personnel will look back at that unique time in the sunshine state with fondness for years to come.
Festival of Footy
July was a huge month for the game, not only had Queensland recently been crowned the AFL’s new home, but a festival of footy was embarked upon. 33 games in 20 days to be exact.
There were 4 rounds (9-12) packed together with games played every night of the week, with the Western Bulldogs and Richmond kicking off the fiesta. Footy lovers got to experience their favourite game over and over again, quenching their thirst for the long-awaited return of the rollercoaster season.
Shorter Quarters
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and advised health restrictions, quarters were slashed to 16 minutes plus time on. This changed the average length of a game from 120 minutes to 100 minutes, to ensure that the entire season could be completed within the small timeframe the AFL had left. It also helped limit interactions between players and all related personnel as recommended by governing health bodies.
Night Time Grand Final at the Gabba
Wrapping up the 2020 AFL season with a bang, the Grand Final was played away from the almighty MCG and instead took place, at night, at the Gabba in Brisbane. Using a yellow Sherrin for the first time ever in a Grand Final, and with a crowd of just over 29,000, the Tigers came out fighting and secured the cup over the Cats.
Gary Ablett bid a bittersweet goodbye to the game that he dominated for years, and Dusty Martin stood tall again, winning his third Norm Smith medal in four years and further cementing himself as one of the greats.
Keep the Footy Action Alive
The 2020 AFL season was unlike any other, but just because it has ended doesn’t mean your footy fun does too. Grab some friends, re-watch the Grand Final or head out to the local park for a kick. The 2021 AFL season awaits.