Eastern Football Netball League: Fairpark coach Sean Stanton voices player retention concerns
Four of Melbourne’s six metropolitan leagues are yet to make a call on season 2020, and one Eastern league coach has declared his concerns over player retention.
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Fairpark coach Sean Stanton has voiced his concerns over player retention following the cancellation of the 2020 EFNL season.
With both the Eastern and Northern leagues scrapped for the year, player retention has been a hot topic of conversation.
Balwyn livewire Charlie Haley recently made the move to VAFA club De La Salle, and two-time NFNL league best-and-fairest Matt Dennis has crossed from Bundoora to Essendon District league club East Keilor.
With June 22 slated as the decision cut-off date, major metropolitan leagues Essendon District, Western, Southern and VAFA are yet to make a call, while AFL Outer East recently released a return-to-play road map with July 25 as a potential return date.
Stanton said that while he understood the EFNL’s decision, it created potential issues for clubs amid fears players could move to rival competitions.
“The challenge is at the moment, with other competitions trying to get off the ground, there’s players that are exploring opportunities elsewhere,” Stanton said.
“I don’t think we’ll be on our own, I think there’s a lot of clubs in the same boat with players contracted that are looking at other opportunities, which is understandable.”
The 2019 premiership coach questioned the permit system, which is set to be implemented to help leagues control transfers.
“You’ve got to back your club in and your culture,” Stanton said.
“But if you had 10 or 12 people leave and they go to another club and they really have a great time, it’s all good and well having a permit process in place, but what’s stopping them from filing a clearance to go back to the club they’ve just played at?”
With salary caps remain uncertain for next season, Stanton said it was difficult to budget for players.
“The other challenge is, we’re talking to players already about next year, but we obviously know the salary cap’s going to change significantly, but what that looks like, who knows?” he said.
“Until you have some clear indication, it’s really hard to budget and know what you can offer players next year.”
Fairpark, which was to compete in Division 3 this season following its 2019 Division 4 grand final win, was meant to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a large function last month and is yet to unfurl its premiership flag.
The club had run a fitness competition in the lay-off following the EFNL’s initial decision to suspend training in mid-March and will explore a further return to training.
“We had a competition amongst the playing group – it was brilliant,” Stanton said.
“The feedback from the players was unreal, the buy-in was great. I wasn’t quite sure how it’d play out, but it went surprisingly well.
“We’re considering having some training sessions for those that are interested.
“Just to keep engaged with each other, stay fit and active and healthy and to catch up with mates. It’s a challenge at the moment.”
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