Victorian Amateur Football Association: Player payment not an issue, but clubs say they are facing difficulties
While player payment and salary cap discussions are dominating the return-of-footy agenda, VAFA clubs also face big challenges before they can return to the grounds.
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Much has been made of reduced player payments and salary caps should suburban footy get back on the park this year.
While player payment isn’t an issue in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, a number of clubs have said there are some massive hurdles to clear before footy can even contemplate a return to the park.
What crowds will be allowed to attend matches remains the biggest sticking point with match day revenue — the canteen, the post-match bar, pre-match luncheons and social functions — vital in keeping club bank accounts ticking over. No crowds, no season seems to be a rallying cry.
Sponsorship from community businesses has also taken a massive hit during the COVID-19 financial crisis and the financial demands on clubs go far beyond the weekly wages bill.
Melbourne High School Old Boys (president Warren Fall)
Costs involving coaching staff, medical staff and medical supplies will still need to be met if footy restarts this season.
“(And) the VAFA have been in contact with us, we’re still going to have to pay a proportion of our affiliation fees,” Fall said.
He said sponsorships and the match-day revenue generated by spectators have either taken a hit or will take a hit if strict social gathering restrictions remain in place.
“We’re pretty well-placed with our sponsors,” Fall said. “We were quite quick to contact our sponsors to work with them as much as we can. But you’ll be losing your income from luncheons and your post-match drinks and the big thing for us is the canteen.”
Fall said, with reserves and seniors overlapping on match day, a social gathering limit of anything less than 200 would probably be unworkable and would be taken out by participants (players, coaching staff, umpires and committee).
He said the Unicorns were still working through the implications of what any proposed return to training protocols would mean and that the club would need an all-clear from the school before it could resume any training.
“There’s no clear picture, we’re just waiting to see what’s next,” he said.
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Ivanhoe (president Rob Pearce)
“We’re just waiting for the unsure to become sure,” Pearce said. “It’s frustrating, there’s no-one to blame, it’s no-one’s fault.
“I never thought there’d be a higher power than the VAFA. But seriously, they’ve been wonderful and they’ve done everything they can to keep us informed.”
Pearce said, like many clubs, Ivanhoe had outlayed a lot of money before the start of the season on essentials like footballs, jumpers, medical supplies and now VAFA affiliation fees.
“And when we did that we never dreamed what was coming,” he said. “And those bills still need to be paid.
“We had great plans. Our first three home games were going to be played under lights and people were coming from everywhere to be there.”
Pearce said he was “frightened” about what the future held for his club noting that many sponsors, struggling in the COVID-19 financial climate, had been advised by their banks to hold back on paying sporting sponsorships while many regular sponsors had closed their doors altogether.
“We’ve got players who’ve been out of work for three months, you can’t ask them for subs,” he said. “We (football) are in trouble, not just for 2020 but 2021.”
Pearce said crowd restriction numbers will be the biggest hurdle to overcome before any return to footy is possible.
“Where do you get revenue?” he said. “Your canteen, your bar. We’re not allowed in our rooms for social functions. And besides, what right have we got to stop a mother or father coming to watch their son play.”
While desperate to get back on the park, Pearce said it could “not be at the danger of anyone’s health. You’d never forgive yourself.”
Whitefriars (president Sal Ciardulli)
“Memberships and sponsorships, it’s as simple as that,” Ciardulli said of the hurdles facing clubs. “We have to provide appropriate value to our sponsors and we have to provide appropriate value to our members and then how we maintain this.
“Going forward, what does that all mean? Not having a great deal of certainty. There’s just not much certainty in things at the moment.”
And that uncertainty is having an impact on the players.
“It's very hard to maintain motivation, when it (the season) just might not happen,” Ciardulli said. “But you just have to accept it and move on. There’s no point fighting against it.”
The Friars president said equipment like footballs and jumpers had already been purchased and there were affiliation fees to pay.
“I know the association has to keep itself running, but at what cost to the clubs,” he said.
Social gathering restrictions that limit match day attendance will have an inevitable impact.
“I can’t see any post match and this is going to be a problem,” Ciardulli said. “Fundraising is going to be nigh on impossible. Maybe I’m seeing it a bit darkly, but most clubs don’t have the rooms to maintain social distancing.
“And it’s not just about the coffers. It’s a crucial thing functions, for helping keep people together. It’s the rest of the fabric that really goes with it.
“I know there’s no easy answers. I’m hopeful that we’ll get back on. The barriers (preventing that happening) are well known and everything is being done to get the show on the road safely.”
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