Salary cap, player points: AFL Vic in final stages of meeting with clubs across state

Player points and the salary cap are among the hottest topics in country footy, and AFL Vic has spent the off-season seeking feedback from clubs on the matters.

AFL Victoria is in the final stages of a statewide sweep of clubs seeking feedback on making the salary cap and player points systems “more user friendly” in 2026.

The governing body has been meeting with country and suburban clubs at all levels since late November on the perennially contentious measures to apply a handbrake to player payments that has been in place for close to a decade.

More focus has centred on the salary cap with some major leagues in Victoria including Ovens & Murray and Goulburn Valley having the most to spend on players of $130,000.

O&M club Corowa-Rutherglen has an additional $12,500 for its second season out of recess.

Regions put forward clubs to speak with AFL Victoria and final interviews are being held in the Wimmera, Barwon and Central Victoria before the end of February.

AFL Victoria community football manager John O'Donohue.

Following feedback collated from clubs, a wider survey to all clubs in the state will be carried out before any changes are communicated mid-year.

“We know for anything to happen in 2026 we need it done by June,” AFL Victoria community football manager John O’Donohue said.

“Hopefully by the end of March we will have the survey results in and be able to identify what the priorities are.

“We’re just going to be better informed.

“We want to make it more user friendly and we are getting good feedback.

“I don’t want to pre-empt anything.

“There is a general position that everybody wants it to stay and we will just work through what any changes look like.”

A Gippsland club president, who took part in the discussions with AFL Victoria, said: “I thought it was encouraging what they’re trying to do, the questions they were asking and the information they were seeking.

“They want to make changes for the betterment for the whole of Victoria.”

Mr O’Donohue said one change that had already been made with the salary cap was the scrapping of the requirement by clubs to complete a “non-declared player statement” for players.

Originally published as Salary cap, player points: AFL Vic in final stages of meeting with clubs across state