Two high-profile AFL coaches agree slashed soft cap has reached ‘boiling point’

Frustration is reaching “boiling point” as two of the AFL’s most senior coaching figures join forces against the cut soft cap.

Two of the game’s highest-profile coaches have issued a plea to the AFL as the tightening of the soft cap reaches “boiling point”.

The soft cap was reduced by 30 per cent ahead of Covid, slashed from $9.68m to $7.25m in 2020. It has increased steadily every season since but remains $2m short of what it was half a decade ago ($7.675m).

Essendon coach Brad Scott, who worked for the AFL in the football department between his stints as senior coach, couldn’t recall a coaching fraternity more “disenfranchised”.

“In my time in footy I’ve never seen a coaching group more frustrated with a whole range of things,” Scott said.

Essendon coach Brad Scott says the AFL won’t attract coaches with its current soft cap. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“That’s not to do with umpiring, it’s not to do with even relationships with the AFL.

“It’s more the way coaches are regarded within the AFL. I’ve never seen a coaching group more disenfranchised with the way they’re treated as a whole.

“While the game is blossoming and the game is in great shape, the AFL have clearly said what their priorities are – and coaching and football departments are low on that priority list.”

AFL Coaches Association boss Alistair Nicholson told NewsWire in March the reduced soft cap had failed to attract former players.

“There’s definitely more people and players who are not jumping into coaching quite as readily,” Nicholson said.

Scott, on Wednesday ahead of Gather Round, firmly agreed.

“We won’t only lose them, we just won’t gain them,” Scott said.

Melbourne assistant coach Troy Chaplin (left) with now Richmond coach Adem Yze. Picture: Michael Klein

“Talk to the players’ association about pathways for players into coaching, and their feedback is solid: Players don’t want to do it.

“They see what the coaches are doing and they don’t want to do that.

“They see the benefits in terms of the career in coaching versus the challenges it throws up and they’re voting with their feet and choosing not to pursue it.

“For the first time I remember ever in footy, that’s happening, and that’s been talked about and just disregarded as just a nonsense by the AFL.

“Well, it’s happening, it’s going to continue to happen.”

Collingwood coach Craig McRae echoed Scott’s comments when asked if his club felt the same squeeze.

McRae issued an ominous warning to the AFL, declaring it would “lose some quality people to the game”.

“The soft cap has reached its boiling point in terms of our staff, it’s not just coaches, it’s our staff,” he said.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae is strong on his stance against the restricted soft cap. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Right now there’s lots of loud voices, there’s lots of yelling, going ‘what’s going on? The game has never been in better shape’.

“More fans, more memberships, the game’s in great shape and there’s a lot of staff who are working long hours and want to be rewarded for that.

“Hopefully, the AFL are listening … the average AFL wage as a player is between 450-500, you’re not going to get that as a coach.

“You’re going to lose some quality people to the game on money only, but it’s more than that, there’s a lot more details to it.

“Again, I hope the AFL are listening, because our staff want to be rewarded.”