 He sat out 's first pre-season match that same weekend but returned for the club's final pre-season match against a week later.Despite an uninterrupted pre-season, the rapid progression of the coronavirus pandemic into Australia by mid-March saw the future of the season in doubt, including Riewoldt and 's premiership defense.The AFL commission eventually announced the start of the season would proceed as scheduled, but without fans in attendance due to public health prohibitions on group gatherings.