But few have gone through as much change as Jeremy Smith.

And despite all that's happened for him within the past six months, he admits he has thought about the prospect of not stepping on to the field at all this year.

A former club favourite at Macquarie, Smith was primed to return to the competition this year after signing with Nyngan following a stint at Port Macquarie.

He had moved to Brewarrina to take on the Clontarf Director's role at the central school in town so the decision to link with Nyngan was big enough.

But the former representative hooker quickly found himself taking on the captain-coach's job following the shock departure of Tom Warner and his brothers after just a matter of months with the club.

Smith then quickly had to take on extra responsibility during pre-season before everything came to a grinding half because of the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions it enforced.

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Like everyone else in the game, he's left waiting for any news of a possible competition start date.

Group 11 president Bob Walsh stated in a letter sent to clubs earlier this month July 1 was a possible return date but Smith said the focus has been on following all health precautions and guidelines at the moment while remaining in contact with his players.

"We're just worrying about being safe and football is in the back of your mind," he said.

"There's probably a high chance we might not play this year. While cases have started to plateau and are declining a bit, I know through working in schools there's talk about things continuing for six months and if they're partially closed and pubs and clubs are closed and towns are shut down will footy really come back?

"It's a bit crazy and we don't know but we're all on the same page. I think whatever the outcome is, if we play or not, everyone will be on board."

Smith is keeping things realistic but that's not to say he hasn't been disappointed by the lack of footy.

He was as eager as anyone for the 2020 season to start, with the original date for round one currently less than two weeks away.

The Tigers had been scheduled to meet Macquarie in the opening round in what would have been a blockbuster clash for Smith and the two clubs.

"I'm keen to get on the paddock. Training was going really well and while there was a bit of a disruption with the Warner boys going their separate way I didn't read into that too much," he said.

"The blokes who had been coming to training consistently were ripping in and there were a few who were primed for round one.

"But it's back to square one now and I think it opens it up. If it does come back I think we'd only get a couple of weeks of pre-season and everyone would be on the same platform."

That thought of an even playing competition with every club basically starting from scratch again is one of the reasons Smith has been in regular contact with his players and club officials like Trevor Waterhouse.

"It will come down to how many individual players have been pushing themselves and putting the work in," Smith added.

Much like Alex Ronayne at Macquarie, the current environment has meant it hasn't been the smoothest start to Smith's first captain-coach's role.

The job wasn't one he expected just a matter of months ago but there was little hesitation when he was offered the job, with club president Glen Neill saying all involved were delighted to see Smith appointed.

After moving to Brewarrina from the coast last year he had thought about returning to Macquarie but the lengthy travel which would have been required made that impossible.

"I'm someone who needs to train and it's not fair to just turn up and play when there's young fellas busting their gut to play," he said of Macquarie, before speaking on his new role at Nyngan.

"I hadn't thought about it and once the [Warner] boys went elsewhere it all happened quickly. Rather than sit back and wait they asked me and I said 'righto'.

"There's guys like Josh Merritt and Jacob Neill who've helped me along the way and I think this group of guys could have made a success of the season."

The Tigers had also secured the signing of former Forbes Magpies premiership hero Farren Lamb prior to the season being put on hold, creating more excitement among the Nyngan faithful.

Lamb spent last year with Oberon in Group 10 and Smith said he had been hugely impressed by the youngster in the few training sessions they got together.