Bendigo Advertiser | AFL Central Victoria regional manager Paul Hamilton says new equalisation measures unveiled on Thursday won’t be to the liking of every club, but are vital for future sustainability.
AFL Victoria has released its proposed Community Club Sustainability Program draft framework, which aim to assist in the equalisation of competitions, reduce player payments and discourage player movement.
Through the introduction of a salary cap and state-wide player points system, the new measures aim to promote player loyalty and junior development and provide a more competitive environment on-field, while easing the burden on club volunteers to raise money for player payments.
“We understand it’s impossible to get something to everyone’s liking,” Hamilton said.
“But it’s all about long-term sustainability for clubs and we believe it will be well-balanced.
“We’ve had good feedback from clubs and there’s a lot more still to be done, which is why we’ve got until the end of August to tie it all down following feedback.”
The player points system - not new to local footy in some areas - divides players into categories from six points through to one.
While the system is state-wide, there will be flexibility in that region commissions will set the points allocation for clubs.
Allowances or reductions may be based on population base, junior pathways and ladder position.
The league-specific salary caps will also be determined by regional commissions following club feedback.
No decisions on either the points allocations for clubs or salary caps will be made until after the June-July trial period.
As part of the new salary cap, all payments will be detailed in standard state-wide player contracts.
Clubs will be warned they will be audited on an “ad-hoc basis, or as a targeted approach if required” and will face penalties such as fines, loss of points or suspended from finals if they aren’t found to be compliant.
Hamilton indicated the salary cap would likely be implemented softly next year.
“The difference this time to salary caps in local footy in the past is it’s being driven by the clubs,” Hamilton said.
“They are going to be realistic salary caps and will be brought in over two years, not in one quick hit.
“We’ll work with the leagues on the salary caps and that’s what the next couple of months will be about.
“Clubs did a survey last year, which gave an indication of what’s currently being paid and the ones who have supplied information have been very honest.
“They understand this is a program that has been born from the clubs and that’s why it’s very different from the salary cap of years ago.”
AFLCV will hold forums for clubs further detailing the new measures in Boort next Tuesday and at Bendigo’s Latrobe University next Wednesday.