AFLCA chief Mark Brayshaw strongly opposed to AFL’s plan to limit payout settlements of sacked coaches

The AFL Coaches’ Association is open to rolling contracts but has slammed the AFL’s latest plan, which will make it easier for clubs to sack their coach. And a number of deals have already been affected.

Glenn McFarlane

4 min read

September 18, 2020 - 8:09PM

Fremantle star Nat Fyfe after winning the 2019 Brownlow Medal. Picture: Michael Klein

AFL

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An AFL plan to limit the payout settlements of sacked coaches at AFL-funded clubs to a maximum of six months could lead to “a breach of trust” between the parties to the deals, according to AFL Coaches’ Association chief executive Mark Brayshaw.

The league wants to put an end to multi-million dollar payouts of coaching contracts for those dumped by clubs while still under long-term deals.

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Giants coach Leon Cameron signed a two-year contract extension earlier this month. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Brayshaw told News Corp he strongly opposed the move, but remained open to a greater number of coaches being employed on “rolling” contracts.

“We don’t support contracts with escape clauses,” Brayshaw said.

“We think it is a very worthy consideration of (having more) on-going standard employment agreements that don’t have fixed terms.

“But when you have coaches that have committed to a club for a long time and the club wants the right to change its mind, I think that is a breach of trust.”

The move has already caused angst amongst some coaches and their management groups, with several new deals believed to have been impacted.

Brayshaw said the onus needed to be put back on clubs to ensure they allowed coaches to see out the terms of contracts offered to them in good faith.

Brendon Bolton was sacked by the Blues in 2019. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“To pay a coach not to work is a dreadful way to squander members’ money,” he said.

“Once a coach has been employed by a club for a few years, they (should) know each other well enough to honour that contract.”

It is believed Leon Cameron’s new contract with Greater Western Sydney was affected.

Gold Coast’s Stuart Dew, St Kilda’s Brett Ratten and Carlton’s David Teague reportedly all had six-month payout clauses or less in their recent coaching deals.

AFL reveals fixture, quarter length plans for 2021

- Sam Landsberger

It is back to the future for the AFL with a 23-round season, longer quarters and Round 1 pencilled in for late March next year.

But the 2019 Grand Final between Richmond and GWS is likely to be the last game played with 20-minute quarters, with next year’s game time set to land somewhere between 17-20 minutes.

The league slashed quarters to just 16 minutes this season to ease the workload on players under the COVID-19 cloud of uncertainty.

The AFL will revert to a 23-round season next year. Picture: Getty Images

Geelong’s Tom Hawkins (40 goals) is set to win the Coleman Medal with the lowest tally since World War I and league boss Gillon McLachlan said on Thursday that 16 minutes was too short to persist with.

But a reduction from the traditional 20 minutes will help aid the league’s hopes of staging another footy frenzy during the school holidays where games could be staged every night.

McLachlan has repeatedly said that “this year has been a year like no other” – and next year, barring the length of quarters, will seemingly be like every other year.

While hubs are likely to exist in some form in 2021, particularly if Western Australia’s border restrictions remain, McLachlan was confident Victorians would be back clicking through the MCG turnstiles by Round 1.

“I’m optimistic and confident that (Victorians will be at games) in Round 1 next year,” he said.

“We’re planning on starting (the 2021 season) on time.

“We haven’t 100 per cent locked that in, but we’ve had meetings on that and our broad contemplation is we start the last weekend of March like we always have for a 22-round season.

“As of today we broadly have consensus that we will be planning to start our season at the same time next year as it’s been historically, with all of the normal caveats.

“For next year I don’t think we’ll be at 16 (minutes per quarter).”

Tom Hawkins is set to win the Coleman Medal with the lowest tally since World War 1.

News Corp revealed last week that the AFL was set to go back to playing 22 rounds plus a bye per club, which McLachlan has confirmed.

The league will also draw up a new fixture from scratch rather than reusing the 2020 version that was torn up due to COVID-19.

That weighted rule will be applied, which attempts to deliver the bottom-six clubs the easiest fixtures.

Essendon’s disastrous season – John Worsfold has coached just one win from the past nine games – is on track to give new successor Ben Rutten a softer launching pad, with the Bombers sitting 13th.

LOCKED IN: BROWNLOW MEDAL TIMESLOT CONFIRMED

The AFL has confirmed that it will hold this year’s Brownlow Medal count on a Sunday night in a made-for-TV format.

Football’s highest individual honour will be a virtual event on October 18, six days before The Gabba Grand Final, and be televised by Channel 7.

While no players will attend because of COVID-19 restrictions, AFL General Manager of Commercial and Customer Kylie Rogers said the night would still respect the history of the award.

“The Charles Brownlow Medal is our game’s highest individual honour and continues to be the most prestigious night of the AFL calendar,” Rogers said.

“It’s incredibly difficult to get people together in indoor event spaces in a responsible manner given the current environment, and the community’s safety has been at the forefront of every decision we’ve made.

AFL stars stitched up by Triple M on Brownlow Medal red carpet

“While the glamour of the red carpet will be missed this year, we are looking forward to delivering a special format made specifically for the broadcast audience at home, so our fans can continue to celebrate their heroes and their achievements this year.”

Channel 7’s managing director Lewis Martin said this year’s Brownlow event would maintain its drama and prestige.

“It truly is a magical night and we are down the track on plans to bring all the tension, drama and emotion to the fans at home as this year’s fairest and best player is crowned,” Martin said.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan will read the votes from a Queensland address.

This year marks the 93rd year the Brownlow Medal will be awarded.

AFL 2020 KEY DATES

Brownlow Medal: Sunday, October 18

Grand Final: Saturday, October 24, 7.30pm (AEST)

Free agency period: October 30-November 6

Trade period: November 4-12

Draft: Early December TBC

BROWNLOW ODDS

$1.25 Lachie Neale

$8 Travis Boak

$9 Christian Petracca