AFL Wimmera-Mallee reduced every club's salary cap in the Wimmera Football League by 20 per cent, as the region adjusts to the financial consequences of a 2020 without football.

All Wimmera league clubs will have a salary cap of between $120,000 - $96,000 next year, down from between $150,000 - $120,000 in 2020.

Clubs have different salary caps based primarily on their geographic location.

Clubs in more populated areas - such as Ararat - receive a smaller cap than clubs based in smaller and more isolated communities.

AFL Wimmera-Mallee area manager Jason Muldoon said the decision to slash salary caps was due to the "uncertain economic period we are in".

READ MORE:

He said extensive discussions were had with club leaders across the last several months before coming to the decision, and flagged the possibility of the cap being reduced even further in coming years.

However while the Wimmera league cap has been slashed, the Mininera and District league will remain steady with a $70,000 salary cap.

AFL Western District announced plans for the Mininera league salary cap to remain steady across the next three seasons, while the other three leagues it governs - including the Hampden Football League - will steadily decrease each year.

The decision was made primarily due to the distance clubs have to travel in the Mininera league and the associated costs.

An AFL Western District report said clubs had to travel an average of 139 kilometres per round, for an "assumed travel remuneration" of $100 per player.

Ararat Rats president David Hosking said the discrepancy in salary cap cuts between his club and neighbouring Mininera league clubs could make retaining players more difficult.

"It doesn't help us at all," he said.

"I would have thought that if it was an AFL decision, then it should have been one in, all in for the leagues across Victoria.

"You can't have one league in our area reducing the salary cap and one not.

"I would imagine clubs from Stawell and Ararat would not be overly thrilled with that situation."

Mr Muldoon agreed that the Mininera league not reducing its cap was "not ideal".

"I can understand where the Ararat Football Club is coming from," he said.

"It would be better if we all followed a similar line, but the sub-committee and the working parties have all approved the decision for next year.

"(The Ararat Rats) have got avenues where they can seek an amendment for the salary cap if they would like."

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from The Ararat Advertiser. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Ararat shire, sign up here.