Hampden, Gippsland, Wimmera football leagues: Country footy’s 2024 salary caps revealed

Next year’s salary caps for the major and district country footy leagues across Victoria have been confirmed. See which have the biggest increases.

The Hampden league has had one of the biggest jumps in the amount its 10 clubs can spend on players next season compared to other major competitions.

Its salary cap will rise from $104,500 this season to $110,000 in a move partly driven to help clubs such as Portland that recently considered moving back to the Western Border league.

“The increased amount in the salary cap will help support clubs when they start to recruit,” Hampden president Shane Threlfall said.

“Particularly the ones who have got a bit of travel involved.

“It’s more about having a bit more money to help recruiting their own young players back from university and that type of thing.”

Goulburn Valley and Ovens and Murray clubs still have the most to spend on players among the major leagues with their caps increasing by $5000 to $130,000.

Corowa-Rutherglen will have an additional $25,000 if it can come out of recess and return to the O&M next season.

Gippsland’s salary cap will also increase by $5000 to $125,000 and Wimmera’s has gone up by $6000 to $118,000 with Sunraysia also having a $6000 jump to $126,000.

Bendigo has remained the same at $125,000.

Former AFL salary cap cop Ken Wood. Picture: Michael Klein

Confirmation of salary caps for 2024 come at the same time AFL Victoria is bolstering its resources to ensure clubs don’t overspend on players.

“Every club can expect to be held to the same standards across the state,” AFL Victoria community football manager John O’Donohue said.

“We’re putting in an integrity program, which means every club will be checked with compliance at the start of the year and the teams that make grand finals will be checked at the end of the year.

“Others can also be picked up at any stage throughout the year for a check.”

AFL Victoria has been working with former AFL salary cap cop Ken Wood on the changes that will include the appointment of an integrity leader to oversee the salary cap and bolstering personnel to carry out compliance checks and reviews.

District leagues have seen increases of $10,000 for 2024.

East Gippsland league clubs including premier Wy Yung will have an extra $10,000 to spend on player payments in 2024. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

East Gippsland, Mid Gippsland, North Gippsland and Ellinbank clubs will be able to spend $75,000 next year.

Boisdale-Briagolong, which played off in last Saturday’s East Gippsland grand final, had an additional $10,000 this year.

Central Highlands is going up by $10,000 to $85,000.

There will also be a major change to the player points system designed to make it easier for senior clubs to access one-point players.

Regions expected to benefit most from the changes include Gippsland and the North East where clubs in some junior leagues don’t have senior teams.

Under the present rules junior players can leave their club with a minimum of three points.