The new coach of Leitchville-Gunbower is Melbourne-based, so was regularly going to be miles away from the club he was going to guide.
But no one could ever have predicted that their isolation was going to be anything quite like this.
“It’s definitely different,” van Florestein said.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in football, and I have never seen anything even remotely like this, and I don’t think anyone inside or outside of football has seen anything like this.
“It’s something we have no choice but to adapt to. There is no one to blame, there is no one causing this. It’s just a situation we are all in and have to wait until it’s over. And you can only hope its something we will never have to do again.
“It’s a bit of greater good at play here, we have to do what is currently in play. If we get to play football again this year, it will be excellent, and we will welcome it.”
Van Florestein has taken over as coach of a young Bombers side, which is starting to build a new identity following its run of grand finals and premierships.
And the new coach said the youth provides an opportunity to create a new direction for the club.
“They’re young, so they listen to what you ask of them and they want to try things in order to get better as players,” van Florestein said.
“They’ve been putting the work in during the off-season, and I know they have been doing the work since we were shut down in order to maintain the levels they want to be at.
“We’ve lost a few players, picked up a few new ones before the year, but I’m really impressed with what the group has brought to the table so far.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do as a side when the season eventually starts up again.”
But now, like for all clubs, the wait is on for the Bombers to show off their hard work and what they can achieve in the new club.