Players would be open to footing the bill to have families enter AFL quarantine hubs, according to North Melbourne ruckman and father Todd Goldstein.
The potential of partners and children not being allowed into hubs left players restless on Tuesday night, after they informed of the worst-case scenario that could eventuate in order to complete the 2020 season.
In the online hook-up conducted by the AFLPA, players were told they could spend 20 of 21 weeks isolated in hubs between the resumption of play and the Grand Final.
The AFL has indicated that it would be unlikely partners and children would be able to join players outside of extreme circumstances.
"I think the worst-case scenario is incredibly daunting, especially for people in my position," Goldstein, who has a three-week old baby, told SEN on Wednesday.
"We've got an 850-strong cohort and everyone's in very, very different situations, but it is incredibly daunting to think of the possibilities of what could happen.
"The players are open to any possibility that we could work with to get our families in.
"Us paying for that (families) hasn't been something that's been thrown up yet but we're hopeful the AFL will understand how important family is to everyone, how important mental health is.
"I've been to Utah for training camps for three weeks and you saw some of the most placid blokes really, really struggle and start belting other blokes after being away from their family for three weeks.
"Twenty weeks could exacerbate the issues and I'm thankful the AFL is open to working through that with us and the PA."
The AFL has confirmed hubs will be used to re-start the season due to the current border restrictions in place around the country.
The two or three hub locations and return to play date are set to be confirmed on May 11 when the AFL details its plan.
A return in late June or early July appears the most likely case.
One scenario put to the players on Tuesday included two hub phases across the remainder of 2020.
The first would be an eight-week hub that would be split into three weeks of training and five weeks of playing seven matches.
One week at home with families would follow, before a return to a hub environment to complete the nine remaining matches and finals.
Under the model, each club would be allowed 32 players plus officials and support staff with the remainder of club lists to continue to train in their home environments.
Other parts to be thrashed out include what would happen with injured players and what players would be allowed to do in their spare time in hubs.
