Updated March 28, 2020 01:34:29

Photo: AFL players will take a 50 per cent pay cut until at least May 31. (AAP: Brendon Thorne)

The AFL's players have agreed to a 50 per cent pay cut until the end of May and are prepared to play matches until December to ensure the men's season is completed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The bitter stand-off between the AFL and the AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) ended with the two parties agreeing on Friday evening to a pay deal while the season is suspended because of coronavirus.

The players' pay cut will increase to 70 per cent if the season is delayed beyond May 31, but will stay at 50 per cent if matches have recommenced.

The AFL is still hoping to have a 17-round season with a finals series, following the season being postponed last Sunday after just one round.

Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast.

This will likely mean matches are played well past the usual grand final date on the last Saturday in September.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he was relieved that the league and the AFLPA could reach an agreement following their lengthy negotiations.

"The players always understood the gravity of the situation and have agreed to take significant pay cuts to ensure we can keep the industry going," he said in the AFL's joint statement with the AFLPA.

"This issue has been incredibly complex and fast-moving and we have been able to achieve in a couple of days what would normally take months.

"The players were clear in their commitment to their clubs, to our sport, to ensuring they did what they could to keep the community safe while also agreeing to the necessary agility and flexibility to enable us to play the remaining 144 games and finals of the AFL premiership season."

AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh said the players were always committed to "playing their role in helping the industry move through this challenging time".

"The players have been rocked by what has transpired all over the world in recent weeks and want to play their role to ensure that our great game comes through this strong and united," he said.

"The players have moved quickly to come to agreement with the AFL and the outcome is a fair one.

Photo: AFL matches could be played as late as December this year. (AAP: Michael Dodge)

"It's a complex situation and whilst there have been many discussions between the AFL and ourselves this week, they have been constructive and collaborative, and I thank Gill for his support through this.

"We will come through this a stronger industry despite the adversity we all currently find ourselves dealing with."

The AFL players had come in for stinging criticism during the week, with Leigh Matthews and Malcolm Blight among those who voiced their frustration about the players not accepting a larger pay cut.

AAP/ABC

Topics: sport, australian-football-league, covid-19, melbourne-3000, perth-6000, adelaide-5000, geelong-3220, sydney-2000, brisbane-4000

First posted March 27, 2020 19:19:26