A COUNTRY football club splashed out $180,000 on player payments this year.

The stunning figure was revealed in a Victorian Country Football League survey to assess the spending habits of rural and regional clubs.

Not even the VCFL knows which club paid top dollar for its players, as the survey ensured club confidentiality.

But VCFL chief executive Glenn Scott said he "didn't fall on to the floor" when the high figure was revealed.

"It wouldn't surprise me, in one or two of our bigger leagues, that there could be some clubs that are (paying) up around that level," Mr Scott said.

"I would just hope the club has done it knowing all the consequences - there's no guarantee of success just because you're paying a lot to players."

The survey also found the average major league football club spends $70,000 a season on player payments, and the minor league clubs an average of $40,000.

Mr Scott said most clubs relied on a number of sources for payment funds.

"They might have a strong stable of sponsors, they might have a major fundraiser that contributes $50,000-$100,000 a season, or they might have a financial backer that's chipping in serious money," he said.

"It's usually a combination of those resources."

More than 150 clubs, 20 leagues and 410 players responded to the survey, conducted last season by an independent research company.

Survey responses indicated more than 15 per cent of VCFL players travel more than 100km to their club's home ground, while about one senior player in every team travels more than 300km.

Mr Scott said the survey findings would be used to develop a VCFL player remuneration guide to be distributed in February, which will include information on clubs' tax and superannuation responsibilities.

"It will be a good educational tool for all clubs," he said.