Clubs could be forced to spend a minimum amount of money on psychologists in their soft cap

CLUBS could be forced to spend a minimum amount on psychologists in their “soft cap” under an AFL plan to make player welfare an even more critical part of the league’s platform.

Gillon McLachlan is focused on the mental and physical welfare of players. Picture: Getty Images

CLUBS could be forced to spend a minimum amount on psychologists in their “soft cap” under an AFL plan to make player welfare a more critical part of the league’s platform.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan floated the idea this week, saying the need to look after the mental and physical welfare of the 800-plus players had never been more important.

Part of that was “enshrining” a set amount the clubs would have to spend on off-field support for players, ensuring none could be tempted to cut corners to stay within the soft-cap limits on non-player expenditure.

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“A priority for us this year is to work on player welfare ... with our clubs and with the (AFL) Players’ Association,” McLachlan said.

He said AFL football operations manager Steven Hocking was leading a review with AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh and a sub-committee of the clubs.

McLachlan dismissed talk the spend on psychologists could be taken out of the soft cap, saying the AFL wanted to be sure each club was spending a set amount in an area he described as one of the game’s most important.

Gillon McLachlan is focused on the mental and physical welfare of players. Picture: Getty Images

“The clubs are telling us the first dollar of the soft cap should be spent on player welfare, so what we have been talking about is enshrining a minimum spend within the cap ... to make sure the money is spent,” he said. “I like it being in the cap. We believe it is ­incredibly important.”

McLachlan said only three clubs were “right at” the peak of the soft cap, but no club was over it.

He is monitoring a possible class action on concussion from former players, including Hawthorn Brownlow medallist and premiership player John Platten, Essendon premiership player John Barnes and St Kilda great Nicky Winmar, but stressed the league had done everything possible in recent years to ­protect players’ heads.

“All I know with concussion is we have taken an incredibly proactive approach,” he said.

“We have changed the rules and made the head sacrosanct, we have concussion policies on the bench that are clear and ahead of time, and we have been investing in concussion research for many years.

“I can only control what I can control.”

AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh will meet with Steven Hocking. Picture: Hamish Blair

McLachlan has ruled out the introduction of a concussion substitute, saying clubs and players turfed out the ­substitute at the end of 2015.

“The clubs and the players hated it,” he said.

Hocking said the AFL was this year locked into its contentious bye after Round 23, but it was being reviewed.