Negotiations between the AFL and its players over a pay cut amid the coronavirus shutdown are ongoing, but Gillon McLachlan's offer to take a hefty pay cut himself has reportedly gone down well.
The AFL CEO and the rest of the executive have offered to take an 80 per cent pay cut, matching the figure they hope the players will agree to.
McLachlan and the rest of the AFL employees who weren't stood down following the League's suspension, are reportedly working around the clock as they try to steer the game through its biggest challenge in decades.
"McLachlan told AFLPA boss Paul Marsh that he would sacrifice the same amount of cash as the players and I think critically, for the same time period as well," SEN's Sam Edmund reported.
"McLachlan's gesture is said to have gained the immediate respect of the AFLPA player delegates.
"Sources at AFL say Gill is working around 20 hours a day at the moment, seven days a week to try and save the game.
"His salary, mind you, was last disclosed around three years ago at $1.74 million."
The League is currently seeking a loan in the vicinity of half a billion dollars, though they need to finalise a deal with the players before that can be ticked off.
Following preliminary discussions with the AFL, the AFLPA offered up a 50 per cent cut until May 31, though that is reportedly well down on what the League was seeking.
Fox Footy's Tom Morris reports that the AFL are seeking an agreement beyond the current suspension period, however long that may be.
AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield said the players offered 50 per cent until the end of May, after which they'll renegotiate with the AFL.
Though the Geelong star called for greater transparency from the League.
"Perhaps we would be a week in front of the conversation if we had more information with where the game is at," Dangerfield told SEN.
"We can’t do that unless we have got more information around where the game is at financially and I get it is a tough balance because the AFL and the Commission have a decision to reach and they like keeping these things in house, but we need transparency on it if we are to really grasp where the industry is at.
"We know it’s on its knees, but if we had more information in regards to that, then we can make a well-informed decision."
