Richmond are ready and willing to kick off their AFL premiership defence against Carlton on Thursday night, with coach Damien Hardwick confident the 2020 season will go ahead.

Hardwick spoke to reporters via video link on Wednesday morning and did so on the understanding that the AFL were still planning to launch the home-and-away season.

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that it was up to the AFL and NRL to decide if they went ahead with their respective competitions as he revealed a range of new measures designed to combat the spread of coronavirus.