MPNFL: Pines coach says reduced salary cap will change the game for some players
Pines premiership coach Paddy Swayn gives his thoughts on cuts to the salary cap for 2021, and reveals why the standard of local football could be set to rise.
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The days of footballers pocketing $1000-a-week match payments could be over in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League, according to Pines coach Paddy Swayn.
AFL Victoria is set to implement salary cap cuts as community clubs look to regain their financial footing.
Swayn predicts the player payments limit in the MPNFL to drop to $90,000 next year (down from $140,000), meaning high-end players will face a “significant’’ pay cut.
“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.’’
Swayn, though, believes the standard of local football could go up if, as has been mooted, AFL list sizes are reduced to 35 next year.
“It’s all crystal ball stuff but let’s say if AFL lists get reduced from 42 to 35, that’s seven (players) times 18 (clubs) that go out — 126 players,’’ he said.
“Let’s say the majority go back to VFL footy. Then players get squirted out to local teams.
“Ideally the standard will go up. It will keep getting better.’’
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