Cash in amateur and country football is threatening the existence of local clubs, writes Kym Morgan

CASH in amateur and country footy is nothing new, but in recent years things have spiralled out of control to a point where players can get $1500 a game.

CASH in amateur and country footy is nothing new.

Passion runs deep in the sticks and the suburbs and, for as long as their have been premierships, the odd player has been paid.

But in the past few years things have spiralled out of control to a point where, in extreme cases, players can get $1500 a game in the bush.

That’s up to $30,000 a season to play in what effectively is sixth-tier or seventh tier leagues.

The trickle down effect has meant blokes who can’t even get the ball to spin backwards want $300 or $400 a game.

The situation is threatening the survival of some suburban clubs who can’t compete financially.

Kilburn Football Club — which has been on the end of two 300-point losses this year — in part has itself to blame for its current plight but is an interesting case study of what is happening.

The Chics were a division one club for the best part of two decades but slid down the grades last decade as the area’s demographics changed and footballers became hard to find.

Rather than accept this, the club began paying big bucks in 2011 and attracted a team of mercenaries.

Back-to-back flags followed but when the cash ran out this year every single A-grade player left. A similar situation occurred at last season’s division four premier Brahma Lodge.

The amateur league says these clubs are to blame for the plight and points out that net registrations are up.

But what are clubs not blessed with high junior participation or an old-scholars network meant to do to attract players in era where moderately talented players want cash?

The SA Community Football League’s players points system — which limits the number of outside players teams can recruit — aimed to fix the issue but arguably made it worse.

Instead of trying to attract six or seven players, some country clubs now throw absurd money at three or four, inflating the market.

The answer is a statewide salary cap.

Yes, clubs will flaunt it but the odd random audit will ensure it is at least loosely adhered to and payments come back to a sustainable level.

Clubs can then put their money into junior programs instead of spending it all on players who in reality are too fat, too old, too lazy or not skilled enough to play state league level sport.