Apr 3rd, 2020

Apr 3rd, 2020

The AFL may have shut its doors until the end of May, but according to a new report, the season may resume just weeks after the May 31 deadline.

According to SEN's Andy Maher, the AFL has targeted a June 11 return date to resume the originally planned 17-game season.

The June 11 return date would be a brilliant result for the AFL, with many initially expecting a layoff that could have lasted till at least September.

"I'm told, by reliable sources, they've got a date in mind," Maher told SEN's Bob and Andy.

"It's second week of June-ish. Full bottle toward it. 11 June is a little date that I've been... let's just see where that goes.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan is confident that the remainder of the home and away season will be played in full (Getty)

"We'll just keep an eye on it, I didn't want to chase it too hard because how would you know?

"But I'm told in high offices around the place, people who have a lot riding on this, that 11 June is a date that may have been scheduled in. Whether that's official, I'm not sure."

Maher's report comes as AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan maintained his optimism about finishing the remaining 16 rounds of the home and away season.

"I don't want to sound naive, and we will be guided by what government says and I've said this repeatedly – our priority is the safety of our community and we'll do our bit to make sure we all stay safe – that's priority one, two and three," he told 3AW.

"Football is so important to so many people and we need to make sure we come out the other side.

"If we can play, we will."