Should the SANFL Salary Cap be changed?

[Sojourner]

Going on from Graham Cornes recent comments on 5AA, should the SANFL be looking at changing the current salary cap of the competition to reduce running costs for SANFL clubs? Is that the answer for struggling sides?

[doggies4eva]

I don't accept his point. If clubs want to save money by spending less of player salaries they can. I am not aware of any rule that says you have to spend your entire salary cap

[sjt]

No. This is AFL (VFL) driven to strengthen the VFL competition, by making the SANFL less attractive to potential recruits. It's getting tiresome bowing to the AFL (VFL) to the detriment of our competition.

[Sojourner]

I don't accept his point. If clubs want to save money by spending less of player salaries they can. I am not aware of any rule that says you have to spend your entire salary cap

You do though if you want to compete with the other SANFL clubs that are paying the entire salary cap though!

[Pseudo]

I would have voted for "not lowered" had it been an option; i.e. keep it the same or raise it depending upon need, but under no circumstances let it be lowered.

"don't lower it, and then make raspberries while thumbing our collective noses at the AwFuL w@nkers" would certainly have received my vote.

[Adelaide Hawk]

There's a salary cap now?

[doggies4eva]

I don't accept his point. If clubs want to save money by spending less of player salaries they can. I am not aware of any rule that says you have to spend your entire salary cap

You do though if you want to compete with the other SANFL clubs that are paying the entire salary cap though!

Yeah I've heard this argument before but I am a sceptic. How did clubs compete before the cap when some were able to spend much more than others?

The idea that you become comeptitive by restraining your competitors holds little weight in my mind. I think that the uncompetitive clubs should get up to speed rather than hold the more successful ones back. I know it may sound like I don't give a s*** about the others but things haven't been as rosy at my club in the past and the pressure to be competitive forced a major rethink (in my view).

[nickname]

Is that Norwood's excuse AH - they didn't know?

We can't expect SANFL players to keep putting in the huge hours they do and pay them less. Lowering the cap is a recipe for weakening the competition and if the Commission pursues this I think it will be the end of them because there will be an uprising from the members and supporters and the clubs.
And as AH alluded to, there's no guarantee it would be adhered to anyway.

[Hazydog]

I still would prefer the restricted import rule - that way everything would be transparant.

It beats me why the powers that be want to widen the gap in standard between 2nd Tier comps and the AFL. Surely for the good of the game and development of players the gap should be reduced?

Bottom line is that the time & committment needed to play at SANFL level needs to be rewarded.

[nickname]

I think that's a really good point Hazydog, about the gap between the comps. The AFL may not care but I'm sure the AFL clubs want that gap to be as narrow as possible. I've heard concerns expressed about the widening gap between the VFL and AFL. Perhaps the SANFL clubs may find some powerful allies in this regard in the 2 SA AFL clubs.

[ca]

Leave it as is or raise it if need be. I'm not a supporter of any kind of import rule or points system, all too complicated and never fair.

I really don't think Graham Cornes knows what he is talking about, someone (Leigh Whicker I suspect) has talked him into his current view without any real understanding.

[Psyber]

There is only one change needed - Norwood should be exempted from all limits!
If it is increased the clubs must understand they are financially responsible and will not be bailed out.
[That should also apply to the SA AFL teams.]
To be fair to all, the limit would have to be demonstrably affordable to the club with the least revenue.

[doggies4eva]

I think that's a really good point Hazydog, about the gap between the comps. The AFL may not care but I'm sure the AFL clubs want that gap to be as narrow as possible. I've heard concerns expressed about the widening gap between the VFL and AFL. Perhaps the SANFL clubs may find some powerful allies in this regard in the 2 SA AFL clubs.

Yes a key point. I have assumed that the AFL is just a self-serving organisation and that the reason that they have pressured the 2nd tiers to lower player payments is to make it easier for them to recruit - just like when they pushed down transfer fees. It is unfortunate that they do little to support grass roots footy except where it seems to directly benefit them (ie the work that they have put into football clinics etc around Sydney was probably part of a strategy to gain support for a second Sydney team) and to reduce the power of any other league who may threaten their power-base.

[Chambo100]

To reduce it as was reported would bring the sanfl just a shade higher than saafl and country leagues. Players would walk due to the decent coin they can get in those leagues for a lot less work.

At the other end of the spectrum the afl cap is 10 times sanfl. Do afl players train 10 times harder. Don't think so. It would work against the Crows and Power's lower have of their list who play in the sanfl comp. Surely those clubs would want their players gaining form in as higher comp as possible.

Reducing it puts a lot of people out of being around the club either in admin positions or difficulty in the cost of running U16s, U18s and reserves. Therefore, less people around a club and less interest.

I just can't see that the clubs (or us supporters) would want a scenario like that.

[SABRE]

There are 2 sure-fire ways to make the right decision in the interests
of the SANFL in nearly all matters..........

If the VFL (afl) are against it, then it must be right & I'll be 100% for it !
If the VFL (afl) are for it, then it must be wrong & I'll be 100% against it !

Pity everything in life isn't this easy.

[Hondo]

What % of the cap goes into the top 5 players at an SANFL club, on average? ie, top 5 get 50%, rest share 50% .... 30/70 ... 40/60 ?

Is it fair to assume that most players (not the stars) on an SANFL list are not getting any more than a div 1 SAAFL or country club currently anyway? Or even less?

If so, is the effect mainly going to be less imports? I know that's still a mjaor impact of itself but I am responding to Chambo100's comment about a mass exodus to SAAFL and the country leagues. That's unless the SANFL club chooses to still chase the expensive import I suppose.

[panthers 2008]

Bow to the big brother? Leave it as it is! By lowering the salary cap our competition will suffer!
The SANFL clubs must unite and make a stand against the AFL .Believe it or not the AFL do not run our comp,apparently?
Andrew Demetriou is a tyrant who should worry about his own crap!

[redandblack]

Lot of conspiracy theorists on this topic

[Chambo100]

How many players pull the pin on the sanfl before their time to go play other leagues where the $$ is reasonably good.

I can list at least 3 Sturt players who went this year and one who was off to SAAFL that was talked into staying by the coach.
How many other guys in other clubs have done likewise?
Its happening already and probably has been for a while.

A lower cap, will just open the flood gates.

[drebin]

How many players pull the pin on the sanfl before their time to go play other leagues where the $$ is reasonably good.

I can list at least 3 Sturt players who went this year and one who was off to SAAFL that was talked into staying by the coach.
How many other guys in other clubs have done likewise?
Its happening already and probably has been for a while.

A lower cap, will just open the flood gates.

Spot on.

I know North have pushed for an increase to the cap and quite substantially too. It is not just to reward the top 5 or so players or lure similar types from interstate but also to lift the payments accross the whole Senior List so that the fringe / ressies players get a better deal considering they put in the same time commitment as the "star players" at each club.

Currently a reserves players on a standard contract gets $75.00 per game on average and many do quit including half way through a season to play Ammos or in Country Leagues because they get offered way more $$$ (and cahs in hand!) for nowhere near the demands SANFL clubs put them through.

A Senior list needs to keep a blend of youth and experience in the reserve grade to cover for injuries, develop players coming through and to keep the pressure on those in the League team who appear to be certainties each week for selection.