Easton Wood says he’d take a pay cut to encourage reduced saturation of gambling companies in AFL
The Western Bulldogs and AFLPA have backed Easton Wood over his plan to encourage players to take a pay cut in a bid to have the AFL break away from sponsorship by betting agencies.
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Bulldogs captain Easton Wood will take his anti-gambling stance in to negotiations for the next player pay deal with the support of his club, coach and the AFL Players Association.
Wood, a member of the AFLPA board, is a longstanding advocate for the AFL and its clubs to sever ties with gambling companies.
On Wednesday the premiership skipper declared he was willing to take a pay cut if it helped league officials make that happen.
“I’d happily take less, philosophically if that’s what it’s going to take to do the right thing and do what’s best for the code and kids coming through,” Wood told Fox Footy.
“But whether or not the AFL playing cohort, whether that’s their opinion, I’m not sure if it is.
“That would be a difficult one and it’s a conversation to have and definitely something I’ll be raising.”
Player payments, which will hit a record $243 million in 2022, are dependent on AFL revenue. That includes the estimated $10 million earned through the league’s current partnership with BetEasy.
“The current player pay deal expires in 2022. Any potential changes to the industry revenue pool and player salaries will be discussed with players when determining our priorities for the next agreement,” an AFLPA spokesperson said.
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Wood’s vow to take a pay cut came just hours after the Brisbane Lions announced a continuation of their partnership with an online bookmaker as a short sponsor.
The Lions are one of four AFL clubs which still derive income from gambling companies
In support of Wood’s anti-gambling stance Bulldogs President Peter Gordon last year vowed to sell off the club’s remaining 65 poker machines within 12 months.
All 10 Victorian clubs also have a partnership with the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and Wood is his club’s ambassador for that relationship.
The AFLPA runs its gambling education programs in conjunction with the VRGF.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge also gave his support behind Wood, who he called a man of “great integrity”.
“Easton’s got a really strong personal opinion and stance on gambling; he stands pretty strong in some of those social justice and social custodian type of outlooks, and I support him and his opinions,” Beveridge said.
“I learnt this morning that he mentioned something about being prepared to take a pay cut and that’s a strong message from Easton. If he feels that strongly, then I support him and his opinion absolutely.”
Wood’s comments come after Collingwood’s Jaidyn Stephenson was suspended for 10 games for betting on matches he played in.
They also follow revelations in the Herald Sun that up to 120 players and coaches were battling gambling addictions or had chronic issues.
Wood, made clear his anti-gambling sentiments after attending an AFL education session in 2017.
“Gambling advertising is out of control and I think it needs to change,” he posted on Twitter.
“Why as an industry do we support the onslaught of gambling advertising you’re now faced with when watching an AFL game.
“The big question is do we think the normalisation of gambling – particularly to kids – is acceptable in this day and age.
Melbourne star Max Gawn says he believed he was targeted by gambling companies.
“Seventeen-year-old Max was someone who was super excited to get his licence, to go clubbing, to have a drink legally and to gamble legally,” Gawn said.
“It’s something that you look forward to when you’re 18, so that, mixed with the income you get straight away — I was 17 when I got drafted … I was working at Domino’s pizza before that, one shift a week getting 100 bucks a week.
“I remember when I downloaded my first app, I had six emails from different betting companies all trying to get me on VIP lists.
“It’s just catch to try and bring you in, they know exactly the name … he’s a footballer or sportsperson or a celebrity or someone high up whose got money, whose got spare time, let’s get him on the list, let’s get his books.”
Geelong coach Chris Scott said the club prioritised education of its players about the risks involved with gambling.
“We’d like to create an environment where (we) provide as much education as possible, especially around the way the gambling agencies use advertising and they use various enticements to bring players in,” Scott said on SEN.
“We think the best way to help them is to get them to understand exactly what they’re up against.
“I don’t think that AFL problem gambling is particularly linked to gambling advertising on TV and within sporting events.
“I think that’s a much bigger problem as it relates to the next generation of gamblers.
“I don’t think it’s a good thing at all that 10 and 12 year old kids can quote the odds of games. But again, it’s a very complex issue and it’s a big issue.”
Beveridge added: “We just need to make sure we keep educating our young players on the risk that gambling actually provides.”
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Carlton AFLW star Darcy Vescio said gambling had become too “normal”.
“Whenever you switch on the TV, there’s gambling ads,” Vescio said.
“(Fans) don’t talk about who they want to win because they support that team, they talk about who’s got the greatest odds.
“They want certain outcomes in games that they have no control over because they get money from that and I know I’m not the target of gambling companies — when I see ads on TV, I don‘t see myself in those ads.”