For Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong youngster Matt Hamblin the coronavirus pandemic certainly had a poor sense of timing heading into a year where he wanted to enhance his AFL Draft prospects.

The 17-year-old is part of the Greater Western Sydney Giants' Riverina academy, and was set to play in the NAB League again this year against some strong Victorian outfits.

Instead, he's been reduced to training by himself in the Lions' gym and making sure he's ready to go should authorities clear the way for football to be played this year.

"It's been a bit weird. I've just been going to the gym and doing my own stuff, which is annoying because there's no one else to do it with," Hamblin said.

"There's no club vibe and having the boys there to help you along.

"We would have already played a couple of games by now, it's a bit frustrating not playing at all.

I was hoping to play real good for the Giants and then hopefully getting drafted, but that's a massive step."

Hamblin said it's been tough mentally to prepare for a season which may not get off the ground at all.

"It feels like there's no real goal because you don't know whether footy's going to be on or not," he said.

"I'm just controlling what I can and that's train hard, because if it does come back it's going to be later in the year.

"In the NAB Cup we play Victorian teams like Geelong Falcons and Calder Cannons, they're real good hit outs for us."

Matt's father and Lions president, Jason, has reinforced to his son to avoid getting frustrated and to tick the boxes he can to ensure he's as prepared as possible should 2020 not be a total write off.

"You can't get noticed if you can't play footy," Jason said.

"He's struggling with it, this was his year to shine and it was tough on him when they said there was no football.

"The NAB Cup is another thing that will fall away pretty quick.

"He's still training and goes to the footy gym every night by himself, and runs every day as well.

"He's keen and focused, but there's a lot of good footballers around the country and they only pick a small portion, he's a realist."

Hamblin has established himself as one of the region's brightest prospects, after two impressive seasons at senior level for the Lions.

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