Gillon McLachlan's pledge to all footy fans

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has reassured fans that the league will retain all 18 teams at the conclusion of this COVID-19 crisis.

The AFL is suffering financially, with the game postponed until at least June – likely longer – and the clubs themselves will need assistance to keep their doors open.

“We’re going into this with 18 clubs and we’ll come out with 18 clubs,” McLachlan told SEN’s Whateley.

“That’s our commitment over the next four, eight, six, 10 months … whatever it looks like.

“We will have the same structure at the elite level.”

The AFL on Monday secured a huge loan from the NAB and ANZ banks in the vicinity of $500 million dollars.

This was significantly helped by the decision to purchase Marvel Stadium.

“We’re fortunate that we’ve got a strong balance sheet with a stadium and some cash,” McLachlan said.

“Clearly we believed it was important for a whole series of strategic reasons at the time (buying the stadium)

“I don’t think anyone contemplated it at the time, to have freehold title over that whole asset, and being debt free and unencumbered … the decision of the Commission to build and invest in that asset is bearing fruit at the moment.”