Why the AFL is frustrated with its players over 50 per cent pay cut offer
The AFL doesn’t want a war with its players, it wants them to help fight for the game’s survival. But it seems the playing group hasn’t grasped the gravity of the situation, writes Mark Robinson.
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The AFL is not angry with the players, it is frustrated.
League boss Gillon McLachlan wants collaboration and he’s not getting it to his satisfaction.
The decision by the players on Monday night to offer a 50 per cent pay cut over the next two months flabbergasted headquarters.
That’s a single month’s wage.
Earlier on Monday, 80 per cent of AFL and club staff lost their employment which is more akin to living in the Great Depression.
And the players put up a month’s wage.
The AFL is frustrated because it believes players — not all, but some — have not yet accepted the future of the game, and several clubs, is perilous.
If the players said they would take a 50 per cent pay cut for the foreseeable future, then that would have been a major a step in the right direction.
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It still might not be enough as clubs scramble to avoid slipping into the abyss.
The prevailing view at the AFL is the players are a week behind reality.
Some clubs could have been accused of having a similar attitude last week.
Effectively told by the AFL that “armageddon” was scaling their back fence, some clubs spoke of cutting costs, but more fat than the actual bone.
On Monday, those same clubs slashed staff numbers.
It sounds clinical, but it wasn’t like that. Long-serving, dedicated, respected and proud people lost their jobs and many of them won’t get them back.
Football’s soul was tortured on Monday — and surrendered. It was a gut-wrenching afternoon. Meanwhile, the players are taking a stand. The AFL doesn’t want to read words such as “pay war” or “showdown”, because the players are part of the AFL family.
It wants them to understand the extremities of not only the football economics, but the wider personal toll.
Yes, clubs may fold and people will never work in football again, but also, people are going to die.
It’s understood McLachlan was seeking to have discussions with the AFLPA. He wants to stress people are making decisions by the hour to save football.
And that the players simply have to sacrifice more.
The major costs for clubs and the AFL is staff wages. There is about 850 players earning an average of $370,000 per year.
Depending on who you listen to, the loss of revenue this year is anywhere between $500 million and a $1 billion.
The offer of a 50 per cent pay cut until May 31, and then further discussions after that, doesn’t cut it, according to the AFL.
The fact is the events of this year will be felt for many years to cone.
It won’t be a situation of 2021 starting and everything is back to normal. Normal has disappeared, according to Hawks president Jeff Kennett.
Club lists will cut, footy department spend will be slashed and the salary cap will be condensed.
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And the players, right now, have offered a month’s wages.
The AFL doesn’t want a war with its players, it wants understanding and collaboration. It wants players to accept the whole competition is fighting for survival.
It wants the players to help fight for survival.
As I said, the AFL is not angry with the players — yet.
The fact that they are aware there is frustration among the players — some understand the gravity of the situation and others don’t — gives them hope a resolution is near.
There are many stories already of players offering to take pay cuts to their clubs to save staff.
Originally published as Why the AFL is frustrated with its players over 50 per cent pay cut offer
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