AFL Players Association President Patrick Dangerfield has confirmed the AFL has asked them to take greater than 50 per cent pay cuts.
The playing group agreed to have their salaries slashed in half for the next two months as the game sits in a period of postponement.
However, there has been a suggestion that the AFL wants them to take a larger cut to help the game survive this period.
“Yes we have (been told 50 per cent is not enough of a cut),” Dangerfield told SEN’s Whateley.
“I think the next step is getting clarity around the finances of the game and where the line of credit or whatever it might be sits with the cost of keeping the whole competition running without games and without any income.
“We need to be in sync with the AFL so it’s not asking for something that’s totally unreasonable, it’s going ‘yep we understand where you’re at, now let’s come to an agreement that looks after all parties’.
“We have a responsibility to the game absolutely, but we have a responsibility that we are looking after our players and their families.”
The Geelong star believes the AFLPA needs much greater transparency from the AFL in terms of where the finances sit so that they can make the best decision for themselves and their 800 constituents.
"Are we prepared to take longer term cuts? Absolutely. But we need a bit more information on where the season is going, the finances of the season so we can make the right decision for the players and for the game because without the game there is nothing,” Dangerfield said.
“We need that information and we haven’t got it yet.
“We get (the information) from the AFL and I understand they are in an incredibly difficult position at the moment, but we need greater certainty around what it looks like so we can make an informed decision.
“That’s not rape and pillage, it’s respectful of being able to continue the competition if and when it starts again.”
“There’s a perception that we have been too slow. Remember, a week and a half ago this hit our industry and we had a hook up with 850 players and whether we feel safe in order to play and continue to drive revenue for the competition.
“We are meeting as a board at all hours, first thing in the morning and late at night, and the AFL are doing the same thing because we all want what’s best for everyone involved, no one is sitting back here and I think there’s a lot of people that think that’s what is happening.”
Dangerfield feels that the playing group taking a 50 per cent pay cut is significant enough as it is.
“I would suggest that 50 per cent for the next two months and if it extends for the rest of the season, that’s pretty painful and if we get the books on where it sits and it’s far more dire than that, then that’s a conversation that needs to be had. That’s an agreement that must be met, but we need to get that information,” Dangerfield said.
“The criticism has been extreme in terms of what we as players cop on a daily basis, but I’d ask that we judge it on what the end agreement is. Judge us on the end of the process once we’ve resolved it and it’s a fair position we’ve reached rather than this hysterical commentary we’re seeing at the moment.”
The AFLPA has been criticised, with some suggesting they aren’t taking the grave situation seriously enough.
Dangerfield however believes they are being kept in the dark by AFL HQ.
“Perhaps we would be a week in front of the conversation if we had more information with where the game is at,” he said.
“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.”