Ballarat Football League clubs on salary cap level footing with metro rivals
The Ballarat Football League has slashed its salary cap by $40,000 but city-side clubs such as Sunbury and Melton are pleased to finally be on a level playing field with neighbouring EDFL and WRFL rivals.
Ballarat
Don't miss out on the headlines from Ballarat. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Ballarat now has a dedicated daily news website, covering the news that matters most from Bakery Hill to Bonshaw and beyond, with the launch of The Ballarat News. Find out more here.
City-side Ballarat Football League clubs believe the competition’s $100,000 salary cap will help level the playing field against metropolitan rivals.
Sunbury, Melton, Melton South, Bacchus Marsh and Darley are often in direct competition with Essendon District and Western Region clubs for players but have been handcuffed by salary cap limits.
This year top flight EDFL clubs had $200,000 at their disposal and WRFL clubs $195,000, while BFL teams could spend only $140,000.
RDFL: SALARY CAP CUT TO HELP EQUALISE COMP
LEADER: GET YOUR BALLARAT FOOTY NEWS HERE
EDFL: SUNBURY KANGAROOS NAME NEW COACH
In 2021, all top-tier competitions will be capped at $100,000.
Sunbury coach Travis Hodgson said there would be challenges retaining players on a reduced salary cap but the equalisation across leagues was a positive.
“We’re like everyone else, a reduction in player payments is going to be challenge to make sure we keep everyone and recruiting players beyond that looks really difficult,” he said.
“But it’s not all bad for us because proximity wise we’re pretty close to Essendon District and Western Region and they’re caps have been around $200,000.
“That’s a real positive from our point of view, the playing field is equal.”
Hodgson’s predecessor at the Lions, Ben Jordan, was a long-time critic of the salary cap disparity, saying in 2017 the league was in danger of falling behind the EDFL’s third tier if salary cap imbalance wasn’t addressed.
Melton president Greg Davis agreed the 2021 salary cap would benefit BFL clubs.
“I think it’s fantastic, it brings us in line with bigger leagues like Essendon District and Western Region,” he said.
“It puts us on an even playing field, they could spend $100,000 more than what we could, so it makes it a lot easier.”
However, Davis called for tighter player points allocations.
“The best thing (for equalisation) is the points system and they should make it even lower,” he said.
“Everyone should have to push their juniors through and each club can only get one or two top-notch players rather than one club getting five or six.
“Personally, I think any recruits this year should remain the same but if a person played the year before then he can come down because he’s a part of your club.
“If a person has played the last season he should be allowed to take a point off but not someone who hasn’t pulled a boot on this year.”
Fellow AFL Goldfields leagues have also had their salary caps confirmed with the Riddell District and Central Highlands leagues limited to $85,000 and Maryborough-Castlemaine clubs $75,000.