Yes another salary cap topic but I think this one deserved one on its own:
Thanks to the source of this information who asked not to be revelaed, I'm sure a lot of us (myself included) are very happy to get a few misconceptions (mostly mine) cleared up, basically the salary cap include:
- All payments that benefit the player
- all match payments (except finals payments assuming the finals payments are the same as minor round. PAMFC used to pay twice the minor round ‘rate’ for finals – the difference would be in the cap)
- above award payments when paid by a club or sponsor, supporter or supporter group (‘barman’s wages $25/hour, play ‘A’ receives $45/hour – the difference would be included I the cap)
- sign on payments
- injured game payments above 50% of normal match payments (player B receives $400 per game and $300 per game missed through injury - $100 included in cap)
- any insurance premium (some players insure their match payments)
- supplementary wages (club guarantees player C will earn $50k in employment but can only secure a job that pays $40k, $10k in cap)
- flights
- best and fairest payments
- after match awards
The AFL listed players are not paid yet the club incurs a $350 per player per game notional expense if player has played less than 40 games of SANFL/AFL and $500 for more than forty games
Reserves payments are not included.
Stat decs are required to be signed by the GM/CEO and Club President that all records are factual.
Salary Cap officer can look at any contract and does ask direct questions about employment by sponsors, provision of cars/loans et cetera.
The system is not perfect but it was only introduced initially to protect clubs from themselves when some where operating above their means and has since become a mechanism to even the competition. There is no doubt all clubs except two in 2005 could have paid considerably more than $305k.