Players demand AFL opens up its financial records before agreeing to further pay changes
The AFL has kept secret how much it spends on wages, staff, travel and ventures like AFLX. But the players want to see the numbers before they agree to another big pay cut. Is another pay war brewing?
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Footy’s powerful players’ union is calling on the AFL to open its books and show “complete transparency” ahead of looming pay talks.
The league is intent on slashing next year’s $14.5 million salary cap for each club because of the COVID-19 crisis.
Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon – a member of the AFL’s coronavirus “war cabinet” – has declared the game’s 850 players should brace for pay cuts “significantly north of 20 per cent” in 2021.
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But in an email to all players today, AFL Players’ Association boss Paul Marsh said the union would be seeking full access to the league’s financial records before agreeing to any changes to the existing collective bargaining agreement.
“We will not be reviewing it blindly – our commitment to the AFL is to do the review, this does not automatically mean a commitment to it changing,” Marsh assured his members.
“We need complete transparency from the AFL ahead of the review and any consideration for change to the CBA can only be done once we understand the actual impact of COVID-19 on the industry.”
In a warning about a likely fresh breakout of hostilities between the union and head office – and the need for player solidarity – Marsh told the players in the memo: “The coming months will be challenging, and your ongoing unity remains paramount to our way forward. As such, your continued support of the AFLPA and fellow players is valued and appreciated”.
Marsh also reminded players that any changes to the salary cap or club list sizes in 2021 or 2022 “would require a change to the CBA”.
“COVID-19 has obviously had a significant impact on 2020, and the players have taken a cut, along with the rest of the industry for 2020, but we need to understand what the longer term impact may be,” Marsh said.
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The AFL has not historically disclosed details around its expenditure on areas including expansion clubs, executive salaries, AFLX, International Rules, eSports, travel and entertainment.
It has also refused to disclose how many staff it employs at its Docklands headquarters.
Victorian club bosses have also sought fuller financial disclosure from the AFL.
An AFL spokesperson said: “We are grateful for the support of all our players, coaches, umpires and officials in getting football back on June 11 and look forward to continuing to work with everyone across the industry as we navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The players’ union agreed to a review of the collective bargaining agreement as part of the emergency pay deal struck with the league in March.
Players have taken a 50 per cent wages reduction until the end of season.
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The rival NRL has vowed not to cut player salaries in 2021, but Gordon told the Herald Sun last week: “It certainly needs to come down, just like every expense across the competition. Personally, I don’t think a 20 per cent cut will be enough given the impact COVID-19 has had.”
Marsh said the AFLPA was “continuing to discuss second-tier football for AFL listed players for 2020 given the importance of this issue to many of our members”.