After just one round completed, the AFL has called for a suspension of play, while the AFLW season has been cancelled outright with no premiership to be awarded this season.
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With NSW and Victoria imposing state-wide shutdowns on Monday, the AFL has suspended the competition until at least May 31.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan told the AAP the decision had to be made.
"We will review the situation by the end of April to determine whether a further suspension period would be required," McLachlan said.
"The decision by various state governments to close their borders, travel bans and other measures meant it was time for the AFL to immediately stop the AFLW and AFL competitions."
The AFL had been drawing a huge new following in the US after their major sporting codes faced season-long suspensions.
However, play has been halted after just one round and the cancellation of the women's premiership this year could have massive rammifications Mr McLachlan told the AAP.
"To say this is the most serious threat to our game in 100 years is an understatement. It is unprecedented in its impact," he said.
In a media briefing on Monday morning, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was hammered about why the NRL could be considered an 'essential service' amid the shutdown.
Ms Berejiklian said the industries and services being closed on Monday were based on the best health advice they had, while the NRL itself confirmed it is not shutting down.
"We've said from the outset that we'll listen to the government advice and in particular the health authorities' advice," ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys told Channel 7 on Sunday night.
North Queensland, South Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Parramatta travelled to round two interstate matches in charter planes
"We are not going through domestic airports, we are going through chartered flights so we have taken every precaution possible to keep the game going and to keep our players safe."
The NRL is understood to be considering centralising the competition at a 1400-room village at Calliope in Queensland near Gladstone.
That's a possibility. We are costing that at the moment and looking at all the logistics," V'landys said of the Calliope option.
The NRL said they would take Government health advice if play were to be shut down.