Hundreds of jobs to go in new leaner, meaner AFL hierarchy

HUNDREDS of AFL jobs will be slashed under a cost-cutting plan aimed at delivering a “leaner, faster, stronger and more focused” head office.

Leaked documents detail the league’s plan to streamline its bureaucracy and create what it has declared will be a “new AFL”.

The league has refused to disclose how many staff it employs at its headquarters, but its workforce is believed to have soared beyond 600 before the COVID-19 crisis.

In a presentation to staff, AFL chiefs outlined a vision for a more “talented and empowered team of allrounders”.

“The necessity of operating differently has given us an incredible opportunity to understand what we can do and what we are capable of,” the internal document states.

“We want to rebound from this unprecedented time on the offence.

“Our new AFL will be ... faster, agile, energised . . . and ruthlessly prioritise what’s most important.”

Hundreds of staff have been stood down and many told they will be required to reapply for their positions.

“We want to build the best possible team,” the paper says.

“We need people from diverse backgrounds who have the required skill set, capability and experience and will thrive in the new AFL.

“We will have a leaner structure with less roles.

“While we will keep some specialist roles there will be more generalist roles — with multiple responsibilities.”

AFL staff wages topped $115.6 million last financial year, but an official head count is no longer divulged in the league’s annual report filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

The league’s 12-person executive team pocketed $10.56 million in combined salaries last year, an average of $880,000.

It is unclear whether the

AFL commission will move to slash the executive ranks.

The AFL says staff who are continuing to work have taken a minimum 20 per cent cut, while others are earning 40-60 per cent less.

Staff were told this week the AFL — a not-for-profit organisation that does not pay tax — would be cutting its own costs by up to 40 per cent as a result of the coronavirus crisis.