A free fantasy football game based in Melbourne has seen an increase in members, during subsequent lockdowns.

Fans of Herald Sun SuperCoach say it’s been helping AFL fanatics get through footy free periods, with more than a hundred and seventy thousand people now using the app.

Having something to concentrate on other than work and figures from the latest outbreak is important for mental health, and SuperCoach seems to be an outlet for Melburnians to combat the stress of a COVID-normal world.

Members take part in group chats, listen to the many podcasts about Supercoach, and get into discussions about it on Twitter and in blogs, suggesting a growing community around the game as people look for new interests during lockdowns.

One fan of the game is Karen Cook, who spoke to Liam McAllion about what she gets out of Supercoach.