VAFA will introduce player points system if it improves the competition, says chief executive Michael Sholly

VAFA chief executive Michael Sholly said the Ammos would introduce a player points system if it improved the league’s competitive balance.

Prahran FC tribunal Michael Sholly CEO of the Victorian Amateur Football Association.

VICTORIAN Amateur Football Association chief executive Michael Sholly says his competition would introduce a player points system if it improved competitive balance.

The league took part in AFL Victoria’s two-month “testing period”, with Premier Division clubs required to allocate their players points based on their playing history.

As part of feedback required by all leagues, Sholly wrote to AFL Victoria asking for the VAFA’s senior representative players to be allocated four points under the proposed system.

Sholly also expressed concerns about proposed changes to the national transfer window, which would see clearances open on November 1 — three months earlier than the current system.

The player points system is set to be introduced next season, along with a salary cap, in an effort to tackle spiralling player payments.

But Sholly said he did not know how the amateur competition would be affected.

“We understand how the points system will work, but we’re not fully understanding of what implications it might have on our competition. We’re really just guessing,” Sholly said.

“At the moment, the VAFA doesn’t have any issues with competitive balance.

“We’re happy with how we manage our competitive balance through the promotion and relegation system. (But) if by having a points system made our competition stronger and more even, we would participate in it.”

Sholly said the league was against opening the transfer window in November.

With clubs expected to start planning their player points as soon as the 2015 season ends, Sholly said the system could be used to pressure players into signing contracts.

“One month after the season ends ... players are naive in their wheelings and dealings,” he said.

“As soon as they do that, sign with a club, there’s nothing we can do (if they change their mind).”

The VAFA boss also said he did not want the system to deny players the opportunity to join the club of their choice.

“We want players to choose where they play,” he said.

“If a player goes to a Division 4 club because they’re not getting a game at their Premier B club, we wouldn’t like the points system to restrict that.

“The other difficulty you have is as you go down the grades ... more clubs don’t have a junior club to get players from. In Division 4, there are five stand-alone clubs, so they automatically start on a higher level. There’s no easy capping.”

Under the proposed player points system, university and school students would be allocated one point if they played for their VAFA affiliate.

AFL Victoria’s working party is set to finalise the Community Club Sustainability Framework by August 30.