Conor Glass was at a friend's house on Sunday watching Hawthorn play Brisbane with an email came through.
The 22-year-old from Derry plays Aussie rules with Hawthorn. The email, which arrived just before half-time, informed that the AFL season had been suspended until May 31st due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
That length of suspension led to the next thought: Could he get home to Derry?
Fellow Ulster AFL players Anton Tohill of Collingwood and Conor McKenna of Essendon had managed to do so but they had a headstart.
"I was a day or so behind them because our game was the second last to be played," Glass told BBC Northern Ireland.
We had to go into the club on Monday morning to figure out what the plans were for us over the next few months.
I was a day behind already in trying to book flights. I went into the player welfare manager and the cheapest flight was not too cheap. It was between $5,000 and $10,000.
I finally got one booked for the Saturday but the next day Eithad had cancelled flights. Let's just say I wasn't too happy that day.
I can't get out [of Australia] really. It's not as if I'm stuck in a prison or anything. I'm just living at home - I'm the same as everyone else.
Obviously, I'd like to be at home with my family; be with mum especially. That was my main reason for going home: To give her a bit of reassurance that I was coping fine.
I was willing to pay whatever it was to get home and see her but it's a pity it didn't work. I'll to keep in touch and let her know that I was healthy and doing well.
I've got to adapt with the times and make the most of it.
The decision to suspend the season has left Glass with some mixed emotions.
"You don't know what to think," he said.
"I'm out of contract at the end of the year. There's so many things that come into play.
"50 per cent pay cut, that's the least of my worries to be honest. There's obviously bigger things going on and more things to worry about than just that."
Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
