On-field player protests have emerged as an alternative to strike action in football’s pay dispute
AFL players are contemplating guerilla tactics in their pay dispute with the AFL. Find out what the potential on-field protests could look like.
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ON-FIELD player protests have emerged as an explosive alternative to strike action in footy’s deepening pay stoush.
Port Adelaide premiership star Kane Cornes revealed a player sit-down during pre-season matches was seriously explored during the last salaries stand-off between AFL chiefs and the game’s 850 players.
Other proposed guerilla tactics included masking the AFL logo on jumpers, wearing armbands or slogans, shaking hands, linking arms or raising fists as a sign of player solidarity.
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Cornes says acts of defiance this time around would be “completely justified” if a wages deal cannot be struck before the pre-season competition kicks off on February 16.
An industry figure close to the pay brawl said last night: “Nothing is off the table — the players have a plan that will explore a wide-range of tactics”.
The AFL has refused to negotiate with the AFL Players’ Association since the first week of November.
“It’s an absolute no-brainer that the players should be getting a fixed percentage of the revenues,” Cornes told the Herald Sun.
“They need to be strong, but no one wants to see a strike.
“When we did this last time the sort of things people in and around the players association were suggesting was for the first five-minutes of the first quarter of the first NAB Cup game, everyone just sits down.
“All the players get together and just sit down on the ground and don’t play for five minutes.
“That’s the sort of idea that they were throwing around ... there are other little things they can do, like running out 20 minutes late.
“They are the sort of things they would be throwing around right now. It was certainly spoken about last time.”
Essendon skipper Jobe Watson canvassed a player sit-down at the first bounce of a match against the Western Bulldogs six years ago in protest to the AFL’s contentious substitute rule.
He put the proposition to then Bulldogs skipper Matthew Boyd, who declined to get involved. The match started without incident.
Cornes said it was “ridiculous” some football department staff were now earning more money than quality AFL players.
He said the percentage model presented by AFLPA chief Paul Marsh to the league last month was fair and reasonable.
“It’s an absolute, obvious solution to everyone’s troubles,” Cornes said.
“The players are prepared to back themselves in to put a product on that people will continue to want watch.
“And if they don’t, the players will get less. So it’s hard to argue against.”
One club chief yesterday said AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan’s decision to snub a gathering of key players at Lorne this month had inflamed the situation.
But players are conscious a strike would not be well accepted by fans and consider it a last-ditch resort.
Any industrial action taken by players would require approval by Fair Work Australia, the national workplace relations umpire.
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