AFL Victoria’s Darryl Collings discusses salary cap and player points

In an in-depth interview, AFL Victoria club sustainability manager Darryl Collings details the objectives of the equalisation measures and the challenges facing suburban footy clubs.

Clubs in EDFL Premier Division, including Aberfeldie and Keilor, have a player payments limit of $220,000. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Lowering salary caps is only one part of AFL Victoria’s strategy to stop spiralling player payments in suburban football.

Strengthening pathways from the junior to senior ranks, increasing player retention and improving facilities are among the state body’s top priorities to ensure an even playing field.

“We think those three can support the clubs in not having to go out and recruit players and entice them to their club,” AFL Victoria club sustainability manager Darryl Collings said.

“There’s certainly scope to allow that to happen, but … it doesn’t stop you recruiting anybody — it just stops you recruiting everybody.

“We’ve seen that ‘boom or bust’ philosophy has been the downfall of a few clubs in recent times.”

Collings ruled out implementing a uniform salary cap for top-flight competitions, pointing to the delicate balance between the need for a close competition and the ability for premiership aspirants to challenge powerhouse clubs.

He said leagues were best placed to manage their own caps.

Clubs in the Essendon District league’s Premier Division have a player payments limit of $220,000 this year, while Northern and Eastern league teams have a $215,000 cap.

South Croydon and Vermont contest last year’s grand final. Picture:Andy Brownbill

In contrast, the Southern league slashed its Division 1 salary cap by 25 per cent to $150,000 this season after feedback from its clubs.

Bendigo league clubs can also pay up to $150,000, more than both the Ballarat ($140,000) and Riddell District ($110,000).

The salary cap was introduced in 2017 to complement the player points system.

The challenges facing local clubs have been laid bare by the withdrawals of Mt Waverley (SFL), Jacana (EDFL) and Manor Lakes (WRFL) from senior competitions this year.

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“We want to make certain the caps are having an impact in reducing our player payments, but at the same time mindful some clubs are very good at generating income,” Collings said.

“The balance is to keep the game as affordable as we can, as well and investing in facilities.

“We have to get people participating, but also make certain we are getting competitions where there aren’t one or two clubs at the top end winning every year and the ones that are trying to keep up and improve simply don’t have the capacity to do so.”

Asked if a standard cap for top competitions would ever be considered, Collings said: “If we’re doing that, we’re probably not taking into consideration that every competition is different.

“If we had it at $200,000, the Southern example wouldn’t have any bearing at all.

“It’s a matter of trying to set caps that are suitable and to have an impact on the player payments that are spiralling out of control.”

AFL Victoria plans to discuss the equalisation measures with leagues later this year.

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