Melbourne Football Club has reportedly helped two of its star players get counselling for gambling addiction after they sought help over mounting debts.

A report in the Age newspaper said Daniel Ward, 26, and Travis Johnstone, 23, had unpaid debts totalling $70,000.

Ward owes more than $50,000 from betting on racehorses on credit and approached club officials in recent days to seek help, the newspaper said.

Johnstone owes almost $10,000.

The Melbourne board moved to support both players and urged they obtain counselling for problem gambling.

Ward reportedly feared losing his house over his debts after entering into a repayment scheme based on deductions from his footballing wage.

Neither Ward nor Johnstone were allowed to speak to the Age for the story.

AFL football operations manager Andrew Demetriou told the Age that gambling was a far bigger problem for football players than recreational drugs.

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