Former Giants defender Dylan Buckley opens up on the financial pressures young players face in Sydney and why the AFL should bring back COLA
Dylan Buckley considered working a second job to make ends meet while playing on an AFL minimum wage in Sydney. But should the club be handed COLA? Not according to Eddie McGuire.
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Former GWS Giants defender Dylan Buckley said he considered working a second job to make ends meet while playing AFL on a minimum wage in Sydney.
Buckley backed the Giants’ push for a new cost of living-style allowance, saying the club’s fringe players faced a huge challenge paying expensive rents in the Harbour City.
Buckley, who earned about $75,000 a season, said he was unable to save any money in his two-year stint and had to dig into his savings to cover groceries and bills.
“I didn’t make a dollar from my two years up there and if anything, I lost money,” Buckley said.
“There were months there where it was really tough and you are digging into your savings to get by.
“I am not complaining about any of this at all, to be really clear. I was happy to do it and it was not a financial decision, because they were the best two years of my life.
“But (financially) it was a lot tougher than I thought it would be and there were points where I thought I need some other part-time work, or another job (to cover costs).”
Buckley, who has since started a ground breaking players’ podcast ‘Dyl & Friends’, said he paid $750 a week rent for a run-down two bedroom house which he had to split.
“The place was nearly falling over and that was as cheap as you get,” he said. “Some of the guys have to pay more than $1000 a week rent.”
The Herald Sun revealed on Thursday the Giants would call on the AFL to provide the Sydney clubs with extra salary cap money to help off-set the increased costs of living in Australia’s most expensive capital city.
The Giants will raise the issue in talks with the AFL Commission in a bid to help keep prized footy staff and retain players including their prized young draftees including Jye Caldwell and Xavier O’Halloran as well as superstar Jeremy Cameron.
GWS chairman Tony Shepherd on Thursday urged the AFL to consider the club’s proposal and “the facts of the matter” amid fierce opposition from rival clubs.
“It is worthy of close examination,” Shepherd said.
“The cost of accommodation in Sydney is significantly higher than any other city in Australia. That is a proven point.
“And the costs of accommodation, to rent, have not gone down (since COVID-19) they have gone up. There seems to be a short supply of rental properties.
“So the cost pressure is real and our players do not exaggerate it. It is an issue there is no doubt about it and it does worry us, a lot.”
The AFL abolished a COLA for Sydney clubs six years ago after the Swans signed superstar Lance Franklin to a nine-year $10 million deal.
Buckley said the Sydney clubs should be given an extra allowance in the salary cap to off-set the increased costs of living especially for younger and fringe players.
“I think the Sydney clubs need help and especially those earning under a certain wage,” Buckley said.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said on Triple M the proposal had no chance.
“We are cutting the guts out of the competition and they want a cost of living component, seriously?” McGuire said.
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Originally published as Former Giants defender Dylan Buckley opens up on the financial pressures young players face in Sydney and why the AFL should bring back COLA