AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has revealed that “more than 10” clubs will record a loss at the end of the 2016 season.

Several powerhouse clubs, including Essendon and Carlton, have struggled both on and off the field this year, in particular the Bombers who continue to count the cost of legal fees and player payouts.

The Bombers, Blues and Brisbane Lions are certainties to be in the red, with the Blues set to record their third consecutive loss.

Geelong also suspects it will be in the negatives due to asset right-offs. However it believes that wouldn’t be a true reflection of the club’s position, as it has raised a lot of money through fundraising this year.

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Richmond, a club that underperformed on the field this season but signed a record number of members, admits it’ll be line ball whether it makes a profit or loss.

Hawthorn, West Coast and Adelaide are among the minority that are assured of making a profit, while Collingwood expects to make a small profit in what has been a disappointing on-field season.

When asked by Jake Niall on Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight how many clubs would lose money this year, McLachlan said: “More than 10.”

McLachlan added that it was important for the league to get its “investment model” right in the lead up to the new six-year broadcast rights deal worth $2.508 billion.

“Historically — we’re in the last year of a broadcast deal — our expenses get away from our revenues and we need to correct that,” he said.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: News Corp Australia

“That’s why we’re talking about this next six-year period — about an investment model, doing all of the deals together and making sure that we get financial security and a generational horizon into our decisions.”

McLachlan’s comments also come in the midst of negotiations between the AFL and the AFL Players’ Association over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. As part of the discussions, the AFLPA has requested to move to a new model that gives players a fixed share of the league’s revenue.

The league’s ‘big four’ Victorian clubs — Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood and Richmond — all finished outside the top eight this season. Collectively, it was the four’s worst season since entering the VFL/AFL.

But McLachlan said he wasn’t concerned about their respective positions, claiming their low placings were part of the football cycle.

“It has a drag on (effect) on crowds and other things, but that’s just timing,” McLachlan said.

“I remember (former AFL boss) Andrew (Demetriou) calling a review into Victorian football. We had a period where Victorian football was out of the eight and then we went on a sustained run.

“It’s just cycles and timing and it’s the nature of our national game. It’s just fact rather than a problem.”

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