Hawthorn star Luke Breust says no crowds for the 2020 AFL season will prove a serious challenge for players

After some enjoyable time at home on his family farm at Temora, Breust is back in Melbourne gearing up for the expected return of the AFL season shortly.

He expects he will be allowed to return to training at Hawthorn next week, seven weeks after the AFL season was suspended to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Breust is looking forward to the return of football, but believes the fact the season will be played without crowds will prove a serious test for a number of AFL players.

"The other big thing that is going to come into it is, especially with no crowds, is that excitement and keeping the group going," Breust said.

"It's a challenge for every club, it's going to be a challenge for Hawthorn, how you can build that energy and connection within the group and really bring some energy on game day because you're just not going to get anything from the crowd.

"I think that's going to play a big part in it."

Breust believes particularly with the crammed style of the remodelled 2020 season, players may struggle to maintain motivation levels.

"Those days where you're tired and sore and going into games where the motivation levels aren't as good, especially if it is off a five-day break, being able to get each other up and get through the game and bring some energy and spark is going to be huge and could be the difference between winning and losing at the end of the day," he said.

"It's massive. From a player's perspective, there's guys who live and breathe for that buzz from the crowd. If they're not getting that and they're not feeding from that then what is it that is going to motivate them?

"Is it a teammate who steps up and does something courageous to get them going? Whatever it is, it is definitely going to be from different sources this year I think."

Breust believes this year's competition will be a survival of the fittest.

"That's going to be a massive theme throughout the competition this year I think," he said.

"Again, maintaining those energy levels. If it is going to be a late October, early November grand final, it means we've been going for 11 months. It is a long period of time to be at your peak."

Breust, who turns 30 later in the year, was Hawthorn's leading goalkicker for the second consecutive year last season.

He believes he is in good shape heading into the season resumption and has high hopes for the Hawks.

"For sure. My body is feeling really good," he said.

"I had a good block pre-Christmas, even though it's been an extended period of time now with training and things like that, I feel like we should be able to manage our bodies pretty well throughout the rest of the year.

"Again, you aim for that top four and give yourself the best chance of being able to play finals and cement yourself up the ladder. We know previously with what we've been able to do at Hawthorn, if you don't do that, then it makes it bloody hard to do anything later in the year."

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