Hawthorn wingman Isaac Smith is picturing an NBA-esque, post-coronavirus AFL world where footballers train away from clubs more often.
The responsibility has largely been on players to keep fit during the temporary season shutdown, with Carlton coach David Teague recently revealing clubs weren't allowed to track them.
Smith, one of the game's best runners, thinks it could be the start of a new trend.
"I'm not sure what the AFL's going to do but I think post this we'll end up a bit more like, say, European soccer or even like an NBA or NFL-type model," he told RSN radio.
"Players (will be) expected at the club to train and then perform on weekends but I reckon there will be a little bit less contact time and a little bit more time for players to run their own individual program.
"Therefore (players will) be able to pursue things outside of football and set themselves up for post-football life, so I think there are going to be a lot of positives to come out of this occasion."
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Smith's entire AFL career has been spent in a Hawthorn environment under Alastair Clarkson that has always emphasised having options and interests outside of football.
The Hawks even sent the playing group off for a week of work experience this past pre-season, where they trained before or after their job commitments in a throwback to how football once was.
"(Clarkson)'s a massive advocate for preparing yourself for life after football but also doing things while you're playing football," Smith said.
"During his experience, he sees the players who do things outside of football tend to play better football and have longer careers, so he's always been a big advocate for stuff like that."
Smith said several of his teammates were thriving outside of football in the shutdown period, including Ben McEvoy becoming a full-time farmer and Jon Ceglar driving trucks for his father's civil excavation business.
Another Hawk, Jaeger O'Meara, also told AFL.com.au he is using his extra time to learn how to speak Italian.
"I know a lot of blokes are getting right into their studies and involved in other business interests as well," Smith said.
"I think it can only be a positive thing. I'm a massive advocate for it and I think we all need things outside of football.
"Ultimately, we're paid to perform on the day, so as long as players and individual athletes can get themselves ready to perform on the weekend when they need to, then, to me, a lot of the other stuff is a little bit irrelevant."
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