Geelong coach Chris Scott believes his players will be ready to go whenever the AFL season restarts in 2020.

Scott lauded the professionalism of the group, saying that while there will be limited contact with the squad during the shutdown, the players will do all they can to retain their fitness levels.

“For us, in terms of preparing our players, I have a high level of confidence that they will be ready to play pretty quickly given how professional they are,” Scott told ABC radio.

“We will not have much contact with them over the next month. When we talk about them as professionals these days that’s exactly what they are. They’re not looking to put their feet up or game the system. I’m confident our guys will be ready.”

While a quick return to the field of play is everyone’s ideal position, Scott also said the care for those impacted by the COVID-19 virus were at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts.

“We have to be really careful to being insensitive to people suffering a lot more than we are,” Scott said.

“Even looking at our football department, the staff are suffering much more than the players, and they’re the ones that most of our time has gone into trying to give some short-term relief. One of the hardest parts at the moment is the uncertainty.

“We will guarantee we will do the very best we can and prioritise people. It’s a really difficult time. Going through these periods with the people we have in the community and the footy club makes me that much more confident when I hear Brian Cook speak. He’s the perfect man for a crisis. When he says it’s the hardest thing he has dealt with speaks volumes.”

While the COVID-19 virus had hit other countries before it hit Australia, Scott believes nobody was ready for the disruption it has caused to everyday life.

“When you look at what’s happening around the world, we got a head start on what we were in for,” he said.

“Looking at the situation over in China and Italy, it should have given us a bit more time to prepare, but it’s not really until it hits you and you realise what it meant, not just the game but specifically the individuals involved and how it’s going to affect their lives forever. And that’s before you consider the main issue, the health one.”