The overall health of AFL clubs diminished last year with club debt swelling alarmingly to $91.5 million.
As well, clubs combined to collectively lose more than $3m, which was a $9m turnaround from 2013.
In confidential AFL figures obtained by The Australian, the negative overall club result would have been far worse if it were not for the huge profits of West Coast and Hawthorn.
In official 2014 operating-profit figures determined by the league, the Eagles recorded a positive result of $4.4m with the Hawks making $4m.
At the other end of the scale, St Kilda lost $3.9m, $400,000 more than Brisbane, which has already been handed an extra $2m in emergency funding, outside the normal channels, to stay afloat this year.
The Lions, despite a hat-trick of premierships from 2001, have never recovered from a stock exchange disaster that saw them lose $3.5m almost 10 years ago. The beleaguered club now carries the biggest individual club debt — $13.3m — which is $700,000 more than the Western Bulldogs.
Clubs are expecting tough times again this year, with up to eight forecasting losses again. The Saints have budgeted for a $2.2mn loss, as have Carlton, who are facing a loss considerably more than initially forecast.