HAWTHORN will make key decisions in the coming 24 hours about its next move as coach Alastair Clarkson and co. come to terms with the coronavirus-inflicted suspension of the season. 

Clarkson found out about the League's shutdown in the third quarter of his team's impressive 28-point win over Brisbane, while Lions counterpart Chris Fagan learned of it post-game.

HAWKS GET WINNING FEELING Full match coverage and stats

Players and staff from both sides were yet to properly deliberate on the immediate future before facing the media on Sunday.

Clarkson himself said the news was "disappointing", but that a season pause was "the reality of the situation" and inevitable.

"The most significant thing is now we've been told our industry is shut down, we have to respect the fact we have to get ourselves isolated as well," Clarkson told reporters.

"Where is that, what implications does it have for every individual and his extended family? They're some of the considerations we now have to respect.

HOMEWARD BOUND Clubs will let players head interstate during break

"What that looks like, we've got to get some sort of feel – we'll have a feel for it as a footy club and try and give some advice in unprecedented times.

"But, by and large, individuals need to make their own decisions on where they deem it to be the safest place for them and their families."

Clarkson also said as a country we needed to treat this situation "really serious" and lose the "she'll be right" attitude.

AFL STATEMENT ON BREAK Read the League's full statement

Fagan echoed Clarkson's sentiments, and at the time of speaking was unsure about things like whether training would continue and if players would return to their home states.

"They didn't have a choice. I guess we're all a bit flat and all a bit dumbfounded and numb," Fagan said.

"We probably knew it was coming, but you always try to be an optimist and hope that something will change, but the harsh reality of the situation the world finds itself in at the moment hit us right between the eyes today.

LATEST NEWS All your COVID-19 updates here

"It was good that we were able to get one round away to whet everybody's appetite and hopefully we get to play again this year, but it will be like starting another season when we restart.

"The most important thing we need to do as humans right now, our No.1 priority, should be just to take good care of each other and to do all the things that we've been asked to do, so this thing doesn't last any longer than it needs to."

Fagan said it was a "challenging" week and that his mind had drifted throughout the week to all the various scenarios that could take place.