MPNFL: Clubs give their views on player payments limit for season 2021

Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League clubs have been asked some vital questions in a survey to determine the salary cap for season 2021.

Dromana coach Rikki Johnston and captain Terry Wheeler raise the 2019 MPNFL Division 1 premiership cup last September. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League clubs have been asked to fill in a survey to help determine the salary cap for season 2021.

With AFL Victoria set to slash salary caps for the next three years amid the coronavirus crisis, suburban competitions will get a say in setting their own limits.

The AFL South East commission is gathering feedback from MPNFL clubs via a survey.

One of the questions asks clubs to nominate what they think the total team payments should be: $100,000 or less, $110,000-$120,000 or no change to the current cap of $140,000.

They’ve also been asked whether or not the MPNFL Division 1 salary cap should be higher than the Division 2 cap — and by how much — or the same.

Dromana lines up for the national anthem before the 2019 MPNFL Division 1 grand final. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Earlier this week, Pines premiership coach Paddy Swayn said he believed the salary cap for Division 1 next year would be $90,000 — thus ending the days of footballers pocketing $1000-a-week match payments.

“Players who thought, ‘I’m a $1000 a game player’, well, they’re not going to be that any more,’’ Swayn said.

With the big bucks no longer on offer, Swayn fears some footballers will choose not to play.

“Some guys will go, ‘well, if I’m not going to get paid that much money I may as well work on a Saturday’,’’ he said.

“And I’d hate for that to happen because, really, footy is an outlet, it’s not a bloody job. If you are playing locally or in the VFL it’s an outlet.’’

Red Hill celebrates winning the 2019 MPNFL Division 2 premiership. Picture: Chris Eastman

Clubs are asked to complete the survey by no later than July 22.

Meanwhile, AFL South East chief operating officer Shaun Connell said another pressing issue was retention of teenage footballers.

“We are doing work around competition structures with retention, given we have had a year off with the top age and no under 19s,’’ he said.

“So we are having discussions with clubs around just how that might look and feel moving forward.’’

Connell also said AFL South East hoped to “have some presence’’ at St Kilda Football Club’s former Seaford headquarters, formerly known as Linen House.

AFL South East is based at Casey Fields in Cranbourne.

“That’s our intent and they are the discussions we’re having with St Kilda,’’ Connell said.

“We need to have something over bayside to service our clubs over there but at this point it’s unlikely we will move holus bolus there. But we will certainly have some presence out of Linen House.

“We are still having those discussions with St Kilda and the City of Frankston.’’

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