Announcing its decision to suspend the season in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan declared this the most serious threat to the game this century.
Now the industry is set to face mass staff cuts and changes as all 18 clubs brace for the monumental financial implications of a postponed season.
The AFL officially declared the 2020 season would be put on hold until at least May 31st as the coronavirus outbreak threat continues to climb in Australia, just days after announcing it would go ahead merely 24 hours before the first bounce of the season opener between Richmond and Carlton.
The decision came after state government's around the nation on Sunday announced strict lockdown measures ordering all non-essential services to close down, meanwhile both Western Australia and South Australia closed borders.
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After the AFL declared it was bracing for significant hardship, The Herald Sun's Jon Ralph revealed on Sunday the industry is on the brink off a mass exodus as all 18 clubs fight to remain financially viable in this critical time.
“Gill McLachlan today said it was the biggest financial crisis in our history. [There is] no guarantee we start the season again,” Ralph told Fox Footy’s 'The First Crack'.
“Clubs and AFL house – it’s going to be a purge – and it is so terrible to even consider this, but my information is as many as 70 per cent of officials will be stood down this week.
“Basically, these guys have things to do over the summer, they can plan, they can strategise as fitness bosses or sell memberships, but now there is nothing to do.
“As it was described to me, it is like when a part of a machine doesn’t work in a factory, officially the factory bosses can say we’re standing you down. That is the kind of drastic measures the AFL is talking about.
“If we don’t make these cuts, clubs will go bust.”
Before announcing its decision to see the competition continue last week, the AFL had already chosen to slash the season down to 17 games, and despite the postponement, the League is thought to be determined to see the reaming 144 fixtures played out.
And whilst their initial plan is to not play games until at least June, Ralph said realistically the AFL could be facing a six-month exile.
“If the AFL is playing by May 31, Gill McLachlan is doing backflips down Olympic Boulevard in a tutu because that would be a miracle,” he said.
“Let’s face it, to suggest we will be back playing footy within 10 weeks is fantasy land.
“I think we all understand this is a six-month decision, not 10 weeks as Gill has suggested.”
