Speaking in the wake of reports alleging the existence of a cocaine ring at AFL club Gold Coast Suns, McLachlan also argued that the public should not be jumping to conclusions based on what he believed was little evidence backing up the claims.

"Broadly, I'm really confident of the culture at that footy club," McLachlan told SEN on Friday morning.

"There's a lot of noise and a lot of speculation and there may well be something that comes out, but people are making pretty broad statements and assumptions about that club and there's no basis yet for saying it."

"I don't have any piece of information about anything that could have happened or may be coming out of the Gold Coast Suns.

McLachlan suggested that despite the drug trafficking charges against former Suns player Karmichael Hunt and several NRL players, the AFL was overall a relatively safe environment with respect to drugs.

"I don't know many industries where employees put up their hand and say they'll be voluntarily drug-tested in their off-season, in their holidays, for illicit drugs."

"It's been done and developed in conjunction with medical professionals and the police force.

"I do feel confident with the education and the statistics we have - because we test our players - that the incidence and challenge is less at footy club than it is in the community because of the work we're doing.

He acknowledged however that the game was not immune to the issue of illegal drug use.

"I'm not naive about the challenges and pressures that our kids face, like everyone does. We know because we do the testing that we have some instances - mainly in the off-season of our players making some poor decisions."