AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has declared that mental health, rather than drugs or gambling, is the biggest issue in AFL football and, as such, the league will appoint a mental health manager to deal with it.

McLachlan said the AFL's new manager of mental health would liaise with clubs and would help them deal with the issue, which is also a huge focus in the AFL's review of its illicit drugs code.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan says the league will begin advertising for the position this week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"We will appoint a mental health manager at the AFL ... we believe fundamentally the clubs are best placed to be working with the players, but it's not just the players, it's all the club, all the people in football working on their mental health.

"It's the No.1 issue for the playing groups ... if I talk the CEOs of the clubs, if I talk to the presidents, if I talk to people generally, that is a consensus view of the industry.