Players demand summit on cost of living in Sydney

The AFLPA argues the two Sydney clubs are at a disadvantange and operating on an unequal playing field, calling for an urgent game-wide summit on the issue.

AFL players have called for a game-wide intervention to address the fact Sydney clubs are competing on an unfair playing field.

Five years after the AFL ruthlessly scrapped the Cost of Living Allowance previously afforded to the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants, the AFL Players’ Association argues the disadvantage Sydney teams face compared to their Victorian rivals has reached a tipping point where it must be put back on the agenda.

The Melbourne clubs, led by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, cried foul over COLA to the point the AFL scrapped it in 2014 after Sydney’s coup of signing Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett in successive seasons.

AFLPA boss Paul Marsh said reviving COLA in its original form might be unrealistic but was adamant something needed to be done to address a range of imbalances, including the inescapable fact Sydney is by far the most expensive city in the country.

Swans and Giants powerbrokers believe the disadvantage COLA’s removal left has started to manifest itself in their retention and recruitment.

And there are other mounting concerns such as how Sydney’s biggest AFL names can be compensated for not being able to attract anywhere near the same commercial third-party interest of their Melbourne counterparts.

AFLPA chief Paul Marsh says the cost of living in Sydney is an issue. Picture: Getty Images

The AFL’s growth into a ­national game has been built on an equalisation philosophy, and Marsh has asked the game’s key stakeholders to properly consider whether Sydney and GWS are in fact fighting with one arm tied behind their backs.

“If the starting premise is that we as an industry believe in competitive balance and equalisation between teams, then we should be looking at all areas where there are imbalances,” Marsh said.

“What we’ve got in the non-Victorian clubs are various ­imbalances. There are some things that are actually for the positive of non-Victorian, but there are probably more that are a negative.

“The cost of living in Sydney is clearly greater than it is in other states. But it’s a bigger issue than just cost of living.

“I think the reality is the AFL is not going to turn around and reintroduce the old COLA model. But if we go back to the principle again and if we believe in competitive balance and equalisation, I think it’s hard to argue there aren’t imbalances here.

“Therefore, let’s have a conversation with the clubs and the AFL and ourselves to (discuss) what could a model look like that actually addresses all the issues raised.”

Ben Reid in action for the Sydney Swans. Picture: Getty Images

The AFLPA says there should be nothing stopping a nationwide debate now.

“If we all agree there is a problem … there’s no reason these conversations can’t be taking place immediately,” Marsh said.

“But it comes back to … do we all think it’s a problem?”

Other issues of concern for the AFLPA in regards to the Sydney teams include the commercial opportunities available to players.

“If we all agree in competitive balance and equalisation ... we have to accept that there are going to be elements of what each club receives or is afforded that are different,” Marsh said.