Geelong have approached the AFL Commission for financial relief with the club revealing it will lose close to half a million dollars this season.

The suddenly cash-strapped Geelong has asked the commission to lower the burden of its equalisation tax after significant membership and gaming shortfalls see the Cats headed for its second successive six-figure loss. And Carlton is expected to follow suit after a number of unforeseen financial burdens see the Blues headed for another significant loss.

Key player in the rise of the Cats: Brian Cook. Credit:John Woudstra

Like Geelong, Essendon, Fremantle, Richmond and Sydney; Carlton remains perplexed at the disproportionate nature of the AFL's wealth tax.

Geelong contributed $300,000 to the equalisation fund this year and has been instructed to contribute $400,000 in 2016 compared with the capped $500,000 contributions respectively from the wealthy triumvirate of Collingwood, Hawthorn and West Coast.