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AFL likely to resume in June after meeting with 18 clubs

It is growing increasingly likely the AFL will resume in some form in June.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan briefed all 18 clubs on Saturday after the league spent the night digesting the Federal Government's announcement on Friday that it may loosen restrictions on sporting activity when National Cabinet meets again next Friday.

The AFL is yet to determine the structure of the season, with isolation hubs still a possibility.

Every state and territory has pitched to host games, including the Northern Territory [NT], which has even boasted of its intention to allow crowds through the gates from June 5.

With just 28 confirmed coronavirus cases in the NT, the government is already moving to ease restrictions, AAP reported, with the NT's chief minister Michael Gunner labelling the territory "the safest place in Australia".

"You can play a footy game, you can have a crowd," he told Sky News on Friday. "So for me, that's a massive attraction I would've thought to anybody, including the AFL."

On Saturday, AFL.com.au reported the Federal Government had established an "endorsed pathway" for a season resumption.

"There is now optionality for us in what lies ahead," McLachlan told AFL.com.au.

Later on Saturday, Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans appeared confident the season, which was suspended after Round 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic, would resume in June.

"Somewhere in June certainly looks like a starting time," he told SEN Radio.

A June resumption would follow the NRL's planned return on May 28, while ESPN understands the A-League will resume its season on August 1.

Rugby Australia is hopeful of commencing a domestic Super Rugby competition from July.