THE AFL is preparing to play next week's round one matches with crowds in attendance but concedes games in empty stadiums are a strong possibility due to the worldwide coronavirus outbreak.

AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan said on Tuesday that his administration would heed any directive issued by federal and state governments, and medical authorities.

McLachlan and the AFL commission briefed all club captains and CEOs at the game's Docklands headquarters on Tuesday.

>>Read Gillon McLachlan's full statement below

"Our clubs, players and fans know that if a response is required, then we will be well planned and ready, and we will rely on the advice of the relevant experts," McLachlan said.

"If mass gatherings are suspended, then we will play games in stadiums with no crowds."

A Fremantle player was on Tuesday cleared of coronavirus infection, after developing flu-like symptoms at the weekend.

McLachlan refused to engage in hypothetical commentary at a media conference on Tuesday, but it is known that the League has thrashed out numerous contingency plans to minimise the effect of the sweeping changes which will be required due to coronavirus.

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All sports in Italy have been called off indefinitely, and the Indian Wells tennis tournament, regarded as the "fifth" major, was this week cancelled by authorities.

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday said it was when and not if the coronavirus outbreak reached pandemic stage, which would see directives given to ban mass gatherings.

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"Our advice at the moment is to push ahead as planned, and round one will go ahead as planned with supporters," McLachlan said.

"The (Victorian) government made a clear statement today that that is the way they see it going, and we will look to them for their advice."

McLachlan said Tuesday's meeting with clubs gave him confidence the game was well-equipped to deal with the inevitable issues pertaining to coronavirus.

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"We intend to play every game this season, that is all I can say and we intend to make decisions to get that done," McLachlan said.

"There is a lot of uncertainty in all of this, we have to deal with decisions as they come up, but we are well resourced, well planned, well organised, and we are an agile industry, and three hours with the clubs today made it very clear we will work together on a response.

"I feel we are as well prepared as an industry can be to respond to whatever we need to deal with and after that it is hypothetical and I don't want to speculate."

The 2020 AFL season starts Thursday week, when reigning premier Richmond hosts Carlton at the MCG.

READ GILLON MCLACHLAN'S FULL STATEMENT