Local footy: Adam Contessa explains why ‘bidding war’ must stop
Sunshine coach Adam Contessa, who played 45 AFL games and boasts plenty of experience in the community football ranks, gives an insight into the off-season tug-of-war for players’ services as AFL Victoria prepares to slash salary caps.
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Sunshine coach Adam Contessa has ample experience as a player and coach at community football level since his 45-game AFL career ended in 2001.
He possesses intimate knowledge of the action behind-the-scenes and the constant, exhausting off-season tug-of-war for players’ services.
And the former Western Bulldogs player hopes the days of paying inflated prices to attract talent are over, with AFL Victoria set to slash salary caps to $100,000 for the next three years amid the coronavirus crisis.
While suburban competitions will set their own limits, Contessa said he was “really hopeful” the move would even the playing field statewide and allow clubs to regain their financial footing.
“Ten or 12 years ago when I was playing at Bundoora, I was coaching the reserves and playing, and we were losing reserves players who may have played a couple of senior games to country leagues,” said Contessa, who has also called the shots at Airport West and Pascoe Vale.
“They were getting offered $700, $800 (per game).
“I’m just hoping that sort of stuff can stop and people play because they want to play footy, not because this club’s offering me an extra $100.
“The thing I hate about footy the most these days is the off-season and the wheeling and dealing you’ve got to do to try and recruit. It becomes purely a bidding war.
“One guy gets an offer somewhere and comes back to you and says, ‘Mate, the only reason I’ll play for you is if you beat that offer’.
“If there’s a reduced cap and you’re not going to be able to get those dollars anywhere, then hopefully you might get a few guys that want to play with their mates or play a bit a closer to home.
“I still think you’re going to have a few (clubs) push the boundaries, but hopefully the majority of them can accept it.”
Contessa’s former Bulldogs teammate Steve Kretiuk, who coaches Hoppers Crossing, said last month the time had arrived for players to give back.
High salary caps place an enormous strain on club volunteers to raise funds and can lead to lopsided competitions.
“It’s going to be the success of some clubs or the demise of some clubs,” Kretiuk said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what the Hoppers Crossing players do, in terms of their loyalty to the club.
“For the last five or six years, our club has raised $300,000 each year to put a side on the park.
“It would be good to see some of these players say, ‘Thanks for all your hard work and dedication, we’re going to give you something back.’ I’m keen to see which players do that and who doesn’t.”
Contessa said the fact clubs were set to spend less on players meant they would have money to pour into other areas.
“They can still operate as normal, but they’re spending $70, $80, $100,000 less. Hopefully they can use that money in other resources at the club. It may make your club a destination club,” he said.
“Hopefully those clubs who were struggling to keep up get an opportunity to keep their heads above water as well.”
Contessa has recommitted as Sunshine coach for the 2021 WRFL Division 1 season.
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