Discontent bubbles under AFL’s united surface

The AFL is grappling with discontent bubbling just below the surface on several fronts.

Richmond star Jack Riewoldt is concerned that the AFL might not resume this year

Despite taking significant steps to ensure it survives the coronavirus crisis, the AFL is grappling with discontent bubbling just below the surface on several fronts.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan is less than a fortnight from making a determination on the feasibility of clubs beginning to train in May with a view to the competition resuming in June.

There is widespread consensus the restart will be delayed further given state border restrictions and contention about how the fixture will look when and if play resumes.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas continued the public show of unity on Wednesday when he confirmed the Power would accept a league credit line.

“I think that it is critical that our objectives during this period are absolutely objective and we are providing as much support to the AFL as possible,” he said.

But a teleconference between the AFL Players Association and football agents on Tuesday confirmed there will be significant challenges to cost-cutting measures proposed by the AFL.

The prospect of raising the draft age and culling club lists, along with the importance to the league of feeder competitions such as the VFL, has sparked debate. So too how best to manage long-term contracts that extend beyond the collective bargaining agreement.

The decision by Essendon to shun an additional credit line from the league for fear of surrendering its independence is an indication some clubs remain wary of central interference, despite the acceptance by Port Adelaide given the financial difficulty it is in.

There is some pushback about the drastic reduction to the football department soft cap amid reports it may be greater than the $3m per club already proposed.

And there is widespread evidence of players, coaches and executives holding starkly different views on several issues. Richmond champion Jack Riewoldt, a triple-Coleman Medallist, is concerned that football might not be able to resume in 2020 at all.

The promise Australia has shown in terms of flattening the curve of coronavirus cases has prompted optimism in sporting circles, but Riewoldt was less certain when speaking on the podcast Balls and Bumpers.

“I’ve been really positive about starting footy,” he said. “But I’m starting to think (with) the community announcements coming through and the way the health professionals are speaking, I’m really starting to doubt if we’re going to see sport at all this year.”

Victorian sports minister Martin Pakula believes there is merit in dividing teams into hubs in order to resume playing, stating it might be the only practical way to ensure the 2020 season is completed. But Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko said they should be introduced as a “last resort”.

Player agents are opposed to a reduction in the size of club lists, an understandable position given they are protecting the job opportunities of their clients.

They point to the prospect of matches being played on a rapid-fire basis, should the season resume, and a later finish than normal as an example as to why current list sizes should remain.

Amid the prospect that matches could be played on a nightly basis, Zorko is concerned players will succumb to injury if forced to play too regularly.

“Whether you can do that consistently, I don’t think that is possible,” he said.

“We’d be very diligent with what we do around our rehab and prepare ourselves to play off those short turnarounds, because there’s no doubt you will fall into the injury bracket at one point because your body is fatiguing.”

However, Adelaide stalwart Tom Lynch believes players will have no choice but to buy-in to a condensed season.

“We have got the best (fitness) people … they are going to have us in fantastic nick, whether that is five-day breaks on the constant, if that is the reality.”

The suspension of under-age competitions and questions about list sizes have sparked the prospect of the draft age being lifted from 18.