The rigours of an inter-county season do take a toll on the bodies of players.
However, the current GAA fixture hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic could have an impact on older players.
With an unanticipated rest, veteran footballers and hurlers could see their careers extended as a result.
It's a point former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins and ex-Waterford centre-back Ken McGrath touched on during the RTÉ GAA Podcast.
"I think it will prolong a lot of players' careers, the six months or 12 months or however long we have off," said Cummins.
"Because their bodies will get a chance now to recover and recuperate.
"I think of the likes of Joe Canning, Noel McGrath, Paudie Maher and the Seamie Callanans of this world - now, I'm not saying that they're ancient but I am saying that if you listen to rugby players about how they can prolong their careers, it's all about rest, recovery and doing the right stuff in the gym to build up the body; getting a gap in your plan when you've nothing else going on and we have that period now.
"So these players have a huge opportunity to get onto their S&C coach, prolong their careers and they'll come back, I believe, with a freshness and a new look on the game that we haven't seen before and an appreciation for what they have and I think that will energise them to go another couple of years."
McGrath admitted that for older players there is always an element of doubt about whether they can keep going or not.
"This will either prolong careers or finish careers," he said.
"I think, to be honest with you, with how long this [pandemic situation] is going on and how serious the whole thing is, players would be mad to go back out there again.
"They would be mad to go back training, mad to even meet the lads in cramped dressing rooms, the whole environment.
"We don't know what's going to happen this year. But 2021 is going to be some championship."
From a football perspective, former Kerry and Dublin footballers Tomás Ó Sé and Ciarán Whelan respectively also shared their view on that issue of extended longevity.
"The last year I played, 2009, Pat Gilroy played me right throughout the league and by the time I got to the summer, I was spent, I was gone," said Whelan.
"The previous years to that, I didn't play league and you were rested and recuperated and you were a lot fresher come the summer.
"So there is probably logic that if they are self-disciplined and rest the body some older lads could come back with a bit of a blast alright."
Highlighting how players with retirement plans would hope to go out with a bang of sorts, Ó Sé added: "Who'd retire now? You couldn't. I would find it very hard. If you're on your last legs and said, 'Yes, I planned to retire this year but Christ, I'm not going now. Sure, how can I go now with no game played? Retire after what? Walk away after what?'
"You want to walk out when you feel like you're walking out of some battle or you've lost in an All-Ireland semi-final or Leinster final or Munster final or whatever."
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