Labrador QAFL players have indicated they are willing to play for free to help their club survive the COVID-19 pandemic

Labrador QAFL players have indicated they are willing to play without payment for the remainder of the year if it means getting a season off the ground.

LABRADOR QAFL players have indicated they are willing to play without payment for the remainder of the year if it means getting a season off the ground.

THE COAST CLUB WHO WANTS TO HOST ENTIRE 2020 SEASON

The QAFL salary cap has already been slashed in half by AFL Queensland to reflect what is set to be a shortened season as clubs continue to battle a loss of revenue following the forced closure of adjoining sports clubs.

Tigers president Nick McGuire said a handful of players had already volunteered to play without payment for the remainder of the year to help their club escape unscathed from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A handful of Labrador QAFL players have indicated they will play for free this season. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s a reflection of the people we’ve got on our playing list,” he said.

“We’re going with what the league has told us and the salary cap has been cut down to around $32,500 and it could be less than that again depending on what the 2020 season looks like.

“We’ve had a few players say they’ll play for nothing and like everyone, we just want to play footy again this season.

“They’re playing at a high level and we pay them for that and they probably expect to be paid but there are some bigger issues going on.”

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McGuire said Labrador would adapt to whatever salary cap rules were introduced in response to the season shutdown this year but held fears for the future of the competition.

“I’m more worried about what happens in future years, depending on what the competition looks like, and how they manage it (salary cap) going forward,” he said.

Ruckman Jarrod Huddy in the AFL game between Mt Gravatt Vultures and Labrador Tigers at Dittmer Park, Saturday, August 17, 2019 (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Around 50 per cent of Labrador’s revenue is generated by the Tiger’s licensed sports club, which has remained closed since March.

McGuire remains confident the club will be able to ride out the coronavirus storm and get back to playing football again later this year.

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“It balances itself out because we haven’t had expenses going out from a football club perspective,” he said.

“We’re working through our finances at the moment but we haven’t had that revenue stream from the sports club coming in but where we’re at financially, we’ll be fine and the league is doing everything they can to accommodate us and other clubs.”