EDFL 2020: Strathmore players to play for free in Premier Division
An EDFL power has revealed its players have put their hands up to play for free if a season goes ahead in 2020, while other clubs are also confident most will take the field for the love of the game.
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Strathmore’s players have agreed to take the field for the love of the game if a season is given the green light.
The Mores are an Essendon District Football League powerhouse, having been eliminated in the preliminary final the past two seasons and claiming Premier Division flags in 2011 and 2014.
Other EDFL club figures have suggested a season of no player payments is possible in 2020 amid the coronavirus crisis.
While salary caps have not been decided with the viability of a 2020 campaign uncertain, it appears likely Premier Division clubs will have $50,000 to spend on players.
Clubs fear some of their main sources of income – canteen, bar sales, functions and raffles – will be severely limited if a season went ahead, but the absence of player payments would go some way to lessening the pain.
Clubs are set to be left with about $50,000 of costs for a nine-round home-and-away campaign, including affiliation fees, medical supplies and insurance.
Strathmore president John Elliott said the health of players and staff remained the No.1 priority for clubs.
“My players have all said they’re happy to play for nothing. Coaches for nothing,” Elliott said.
“I’m pretty sure all clubs would nearly play for nothing.
“They want to play footy, but they also want to be in an environment where they’re protected.
“We’re playing a contact sport – there’s saliva, sweat.”
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Greenvale president Bruce Kent was confident most of his players would take the field without pay.
But he said some players would be unable to commit to play if they were facing financial difficulties and had the opportunity to work on Saturdays.
“I think the answer is most would, if that was the situation across the league,” Kent said.
“Some may not be able to because they have to work.
“There’s a lot of people out of work at the moment. People forget about this.
“Any extra work you can pick up at the weekend is something you’ve got to do.
“Being able to have a job, earn income and all that is more important than playing footy.”
Avondale Heights coach Patrick Byrne said his players were keen to return to the field.
He said his club was in the process of addressing the prospect of no payments with all players.
“The players just want to play. Obviously no payments is not ideal, but in my view 95 per cent of players and coaches will play and coach regardless of money for this year as it’s going to be the same everywhere,” Byrne said.
“And ultimately it’s about playing and participating in the game they love with their mates.”
Several other top-flight clubs said they would not make a decision until it was confirmed the season would go ahead.
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