AFL Draft 2022: Club payments for players drafted cut in Covid

During the pandemic payments to country clubs for players drafted disappeared. Now two clubs are leading the charge for its return.

Victorian country football clubs are upset that a small financial reward for producing a player drafted into the AFL hasn’t been reinstated after getting the chop in Covid.

Up until 2020, clubs received $3000 if a player was taken in the national draft and $1000 in the rookie draft.

But two clubs, Myrtleford and Maffra, argue the game can afford to bring back the payments after the AFL clinched a new $4.5 billion broadcast deal this year.

Former Myrtleford player Jack Crisp has won two Copeland Trophy awards at Collingwood. Picture by Michael Klein

Myrtleford president Ian Wales said the AFL could go even further and provide payments to clubs when their players hit a major milestone of 100, 200 and 300 matches at AFL senior level.

“Everyone was meant to win from the latest TV deal,” he said.

“But we’re still waiting to see anything come of it.

“It’s only a small number of players who come from a club like ours when you consider the increasing number drafted from private schools and interstate.

“The money we all used to get isn’t much in the overall scheme of things.”

Myrtleford has three players on AFL lists including dual Collingwood best and fairest winner Jack Crisp and Fremantle forward Matt Taberner.

Maffra had a string of players drafted from 2008 including Western Bulldogs premiership player Clay Smith, Port Adelaide forward John Butcher and Essendon small forward Irving Mosquito.

Maffra’s Sam Berry was drafted to the Adealide Crows in 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

But the AFL payments stopped when Dominic Bedendo and Sam Berry were drafted from Myrtleford and Maffra respectively in 2020.

“Surely a club that plays a massive part in developing talent deserves to be recognised and rewarded financially,” Maffra president John Brunt said.

“With a billion-dollar TV rights deal in place, something should flow back to the grassroots level.

“But it appears easier to plough hundreds of millions into AFLW or another couple hundred million establishing a team in Tasmania.

“The amounts clubs received before 2020 were minuscule in comparison.

“No doubt country players will be drafted to the Tasmania club at some stage down the track.

“But giving $3000 to a struggling country club for producing a player good enough to be drafted? No, dong it on the head.”

Maffra’s Coby Burgiel, left, playing for Gippsland Power against Sandringham. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Maffra has three players in draft contention next week including Coby Burgiel.

AFL Victoria spokesman Nick Hulet confirmed there were a number of programs reviewed during the Covid years and a decision taken to support “the grassroots game more broadly”.

One of them was an $8 million package which included $1.4 million to remove coaching and umpire registration fees nationally and an $800,000 commitment to Victorian clubs in 2022 season to cover administrative and insurance costs.

Mr Hulet said the overall investment in community football in 2023 would increase from just over $50 million to $67 million.

“Many have done it tough in recent years,” he said.

“So part of this commitment to supporting the grassroots game is ensuring funding and support is directed to areas most in need.

“AFL Victoria also aims to provide support across all facets of the game, including players, umpires, coaches, volunteers, administrators and clubs.”