AFL CHIEFS will spend Monday night anaylsing the latest Federal Government announcement that is set to keep more employees at clubs.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday that employees stood down by their employers would be eligible to $1500 a fortnight over the next six months in a new JobKeeper package.

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Clubs contacted by AFL.com.au said they would be investigating how it would impact them in the likelihood of keeping stood down staff on their books and not being forced to make them redundant.

Around 80 per cent of staff at AFL clubs were stood down last week – most until at least May 31 – as the AFL put the season on hold due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Of those stood down, many were not guaranteed their futures beyond May 31 as clubs brace for reduced budgets – including a significant cut to football department spending that will see soft cap spending drop from $9.7 million to $6.7 million per season by 2021. 

The latest government initiative – part of a $130 billion package – is aimed at keeping employees connected to their employers while they're out of work.

It formed a key discussion point in the daily weekday phone hook-up with club chiefs and AFL officials on Monday afternoon.

Clubs have found themselves collaborating more than ever in the unprecedented climate, with a series of group chats set-up to guide them through the crisis. 

Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains and Brisbane counterpart Greg Swann are leading the discussion on football departments. 

Carlton's Cain Liddle and Richmond's Brendon Gale - who worked together at Punt Road up until 2017 - are driving the conversation on membership. 

Meanwhile, Essendon boss Xavier Campbell is heading up the finance sub-committee. 

The AFL announced earlier on Monday it had secured a loan worth more than $500 million to assist with rebuilding the fallout of the COVID-19 crisis.

Last Friday, the AFL and AFLPA reached an agreement for players to take a 50 per cent pay cut for April and May which will increase to 70 per cent should football not be played again in 2020.