Alastair Clarkson during the Hawks' official 2020 team photo shoot in. Picture: AFL Photos

THE AFL's 18 senior coaches have offered to take 20 per cent pay cuts as a means to help their clubs negotiate through the frightening financial fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.

The coaches don't want their collective gesture to be viewed as anything but a private measure to assist the viability of their clubs, and they were not seeking any public acknowledgment for it.

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As the seemingly unlimited financial devastation of the coronavirus scope became obvious early this week, clubs and the AFL became aware the coaches had agreed to the cuts.

AFL Coaches Association chief executive officer Mark Brayshaw wouldn't talk about the topic when contacted by AFL.com.au.

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"I've got no comment," Brayshaw said.

The coaches' move is indicative of the football industry's all-in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The AFL is also looking at drastic changes to the financial business models at the clubs, including widespread changes to the "soft cap" allowances which applies to football departments.

On Monday the AFL announced it had reduced its home-and-away season from 198 to 153 matches, and only Wednesday night confirmed Thursday night's round one game would actually go ahead.