INTENSIVE four-hour daily training routines, online programs and the AFL's guarantee of a month-long 'mini pre-season' will ensure players will find a way of turning adversity into advantage during the suspension of competition, according to fitness guru David Buttifant.

Players have effectively been banned from their clubs during the recent suspension of play and must follow social distancing advice from state governments while in isolation due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

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It means that players are currently being advised to train individually or in small groups, while it has led to many taking gym equipment from club facilities home as they prepare for tougher lockdown measures in the coming weeks.

However, despite the fear of some clubs that certain players may lose valuable strength and conditioning gains from the most recent pre-season during their time in isolation, Buttifant believes others – in particular, more senior players – will find significant benefits.

SHUTDOWN PERIOD Players can head home

"I think some players will adjust really quickly back into football," Buttifant told AFL.com.au.

"The (older players) have been conditioning for 10 or 12 years, so they're well-conditioned athletes.

"The younger guys might find it a little bit harder to adjust because they're still developing their fitness. But older players and more conditioned athletes could get back into game situations after four weeks (of training upon return).

"Particularly if they keep the same game time with 16-minute quarters. They might have to keep that to help the players transition back into competition.

"Maybe you also take capping away from interchange, decrease the game time further … that might be able to mitigate some of the stresses imposed on the players.

A handful of clubs have encouraged players to take a short break in the wake of competition being suspended, but are overall supportive of their players continuing to train over the coming weeks.

A host of players have already taken to social media to showcase their home gym setups, while a handful of clubs have also given players 'gym packs' featuring resistance bands and footballs to ensure they are equipped to complete training sessions from isolation.

Should they have the luxury of further equipment at home – notably treadmills, rowing machines and stationary bikes – Buttifant believes they could be notching daily sessions that last for up to four hours from their abodes.

"This is an opportunity for some players to really build some of their strengths and qualities," Buttifant said.

"If they've got the equipment, they could do some serious training. If they're not doing anything else and they have a routine, they could get four hours of solid training in per day.

"Particularly if you're in an environment where you're not too crammed, where you could get outdoors and do some running, some weight training, some range of motion … they might have a pool and they could sleep throughout the day.

"They could actually get really quite fit, but that's if they're disciplined. You could turn adversity into advantage.

"You wouldn't want to be doing purely athletic things, you'd be wanting to help and support your family. But there are some players who would do that. Others might just do the bare minimum. But you could do a lot.

"If you got up early and got into your structure, you do your weights training, your conditioning work on a treadmill, do your range of motion, do your core work … you could put four hours per day away easily."

DESPERATE TO PLAY The players who need footy back the most

However, while players will be able to maintain strength and conditioning fitness during their time in isolation, there remains a concern that ball skills could be impacted over the coming months.

Buttifant therefore believes that ball work will be the main focus for clubs upon returning to action for a month-long 'mini pre-season' that will take place when the AFL ultimately announces a date for competition to resume.

"They've got to keep ticking over and maintaining what we call essential adaptation … cardiovascular and aerobic conditioning, they're things they'll be able to maintain," Buttifant said.

"It's more the footy-specific stuff like change of direction, top-end speed … that's going to be difficult. If they can't get outdoors and can't train with anyone else – which they might not be able to if it gets to the next stage of lockdown – it makes it a lot harder to do.

"The physical intensity of the game, you're not going to be able to replicate anything like that from home."