AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick. Picture: Kylie Else

McLachlan’s 2015 salary is a far cry from the $3.8m in salary and bonuses paid to former chief executive Andrew Demetriou in 2013, his final full year at the helm.

Both men shared $3.3m in pay in 2014.

The salary details are released as part of the AFL’s financial accounts, which show the league’s revenue increased by $33.3m to $506m in 2015.

Profit dropped by $10m to just $2.5m, after distributions to clubs and development grants

The AFL provided $245.2m to clubs — compared to $218.3m in 2014 — and allocated $39.4m in game development grants.

It is understood the league is braced for a loss in the 2016 financial year to October 31 — which is the last of the current television rights deal.

McLachlan sealed the game’s future by inking a six-year $2.5 billion broadcast agreement that will begin next year.

He has also taken a fan-friendly approach to running the game since taking over from Demetriou in June, 2014, achieving lower food and drink prices at the major Melbourne venues and ensuring a club focus on “match-day experience”.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan gets swamped at Unley Primary. Picture: Mark BrakeSource:News Corp Australia

He will play a key role in upcoming negotiations with the AFL Players Association as players seek a percentage of the game’s revenue as part of their next Collective Bargaining Agreement — also due to come into force in 2017.

Under McLachlan, the league has also set an aggressive timeline for the introduction of a national women’s competition.

AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said the “commission and the clubs can feel proud of the state of the game during the last 12 months”.

“During our 2015 financial year, the code has grown its revenue … grown our corporate partnerships and club memberships and held strong ground with our attendances and ratings,” Fitzpatrick said.

“As well as this, the AFL team have delivered an outstanding broadcast rights agreement, upon which we can build a strong future as Australia’s number one game.”

Fitzpatrick said the league had in 2015 began to “lay the foundations for the most dramatic change to our game in its 150 years — the establishment of a national women’s league”.

“We also reviewed second tier and community football and have grounded our multicultural and indigenous growth strategy in the Next Generation Academies,” Fitzpatrick said.

“The game is in very good shape, and we go into the 2016 season with a strong financial outlook, 18 competitive clubs, passionate members and exciting new projects that will build our future.”

2015 BY THE NUMBERS

Revenue: $506m (up $33.3m)

Expenditure: $168m (up $12.7m)

Club distributions: $245.2m (up $26.9)

Profit: $2.5m

CEO pay: $1.7m