AFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

[Greystache]

I'm normally not an apologist for the AFEL but this is simply posturing by Paul Marsh and the AFLPA, who are doing nothing more than applying a lazy method to increase the revenue for the players (and no doubt his own bonuses). The fixed percentage will simply give a fixed return to the players at the expense of the clubs - the AFEL won't be losing any of their own revenue.

For starters how is this going to work with multi year player contracts? If overall revenue goes down for a season (quite a possible scenario with Australian economic growth going into negative territory in the Sep qtr for the first time in many years) then every single club will be over the salary cap the following year if the percentage model is in play.

The AFEL are happy to increase the pie for the players to what their expectations are but not through a fixed percentage model. Paul Marsh needs to get off his arse and do some actual work on behalf of the players he supposedly represents.

Agree. Marsh is a simpleton who just parrot's what the players say without the viability lens his role dictates he should apply.

The AFLPA seems to just look at NFL, cherry pick the best parts, then demand that from the AFEL without sacrificing any of the cushy benefits they currently enjoy. If they want an NFL model the AFEL should offer it completely- No guaranteed contracts, trading players against their will, limited support for injuries, and in return they can have their fixed percentage. The AFLPA would go nuts if they had to face the ugly real world out there.

[1eyedog]

How any stakeholder that is getting paid by this windfall, which is ultimately paid by the fans in the first place, could expect to get a bigger lick as a priority over another is baffling.

The biggest priority for the game should be to have itself more accessible to more people. To think that any argument is diverted away from that simple concept is confirmation the game has cooked itself and any pretence of supporter enjoyment or supporter support is done.

My view is the players deserve the largest piece of the pie, clubs deserve the next level, and City Hall runs lean with registered savings agreed by other stakeholders taken into account for future benefit to the broad competition.

Socialist

[Ozza]

I'm normally not an apologist for the AFEL but this is simply posturing by Paul Marsh and the AFLPA, who are doing nothing more than applying a lazy method to increase the revenue for the players (and no doubt his own bonuses). The fixed percentage will simply give a fixed return to the players at the expense of the clubs - the AFEL won't be losing any of their own revenue.

For starters how is this going to work with multi year player contracts? If overall revenue goes down for a season (quite a possible scenario with Australian economic growth going into negative territory in the Sep qtr for the first time in many years) then every single club will be over the salary cap the following year if the percentage model is in play.

The AFEL are happy to increase the pie for the players to what their expectations are but not through a fixed percentage model. Paul Marsh needs to get off his arse and do some actual work on behalf of the players he supposedly represents.

Couldn't agree more. Setting aside the management & salary cap issues that will occurring should revenue drop;
My biggest issue with the request - is that there doesn't seem to be an acknowledgement that plenty of the clubs are either carry a huge amount of debt - or would be if not for the AFL handouts/equalization measures. This includes our own club up until recent success (and some huge donations) is re-writing our story.

I'm all for the salary cap being increased, especially given our current position - but it should be within the framework of the current salary cap, and be relevant to this economy.

[bornadog]

How any stakeholder that is getting paid by this windfall, which is ultimately paid by the fans in the first place, could expect to get a bigger lick as a priority over another is baffling.

The biggest priority for the game should be to have itself more accessible to more people. To think that any argument is diverted away from that simple concept is confirmation the game has cooked itself and any pretence of supporter enjoyment or supporter support is done.

My view is the players deserve the largest piece of the pie, clubs deserve the next level, and City Hall runs lean with registered savings agreed by other stakeholders taken into account for future benefit to the broad competition.

The AFEL is far from lean with the massive HQ. Did you know they have something like 60 people working on NZ as a project.

[Twodogs]

Agree. Marsh is a simpleton who just parrot's what the players say without the viability lens his role dictates he should apply.

The AFLPA seems to just look at NFL, cherry pick the best parts, then demand that from the AFEL without sacrificing any of the cushy benefits they currently enjoy. If they want an NFL model the AFEL should offer it completely- No guaranteed contracts, trading players against their will, limited support for injuries, and in return they can have their fixed percentage. The AFLPA would go nuts if they had to face the ugly real world out there.

Yep. Marsh is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. He's better than Benny Gale though. The players are living in la la land.

[Ozza]

The players love trotting out the line about them being the ones providing the entertainment.
That line alone is fine - and works well as a sound bite.
But it also has very little to do with the AFL pushing back against the financial model in which they want to base the salary cap/player payments.

[comrade]

Some great points being made here, enjoying the read.

The lack of control clubs have over player movement is completely at odds with what the players are now demanding. As Grey said, give them more money but take control over movement away from them. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[hujsh]

The players love trotting out the line about them being the ones providing the entertainment.
That line alone is fine - and works well as a sound bite.
But it also has very little to do with the AFL pushing back against the financial model in which they want to base the salary cap/player payments.

Also not necessarily correct as people go to watch the club's team that they are loyal to not an assortment of talented individuals (like the Big Bash teams)

[Sedat]

Interesting that Cricket Australia are desperate to peel back the percentage model for their next collective bargaining agreement with the players, and are currently wining and dining Smith and Warner to get their support to do so.

[bornadog]

Agreement reached - announcement at 5pm today

[bulldogtragic]

Agreement reached - announcement at 5pm today

I hope at 5.01pm JJ announces he's staying, and Webb & Dale too.

Hopefully we've got a war chest for this year for free agents with most of guns locked away for many years still.

[bornadog]

I hope at 5.01pm JJ announces he's staying, and Webb & Dale too.

Hopefully we've got a war chest for this year for free agents with most of guns locked away for many years still.

Average wages will be up 20% - $307k to $371k, Salary cap goes to $12.4million

[bulldogtragic]

Average wages will be up 20% - $307k to $371k, Salary cap goes to $12.4million

With the cash the club has confirmed we still have from last year, plus this rise to some level, I wonder if we could do a Hawthorn 2009 (Burgoyne) and do a Western Bulldogs 2016 (Nat Fyfe).

[westdog54]

Summary of main points:

• 20% Increase in Salary Cap for this season, with annual increases of 1.2% (2018), 1.3% (2019) and 2% (2020-2022).
• All Tribunal fines will be part of an annual contribution of $250,000 for concussion research
• WA clubs will receive 12 business class airfares per flight when doing east/west travel
• Category A rookies will be eligible to play from round one next season
• Restricted free agency has been removed, with all free agents 'unrestricted'
• 'Rested' players or 'held over' travelling emergencies left out of their senior team will receive match payments
• Players have agreed to license their personal GPS data to be made available to clubs and broadcasters with specified limitations
• Annual contribution of $4million to players lifetime health/career ending injuries plan
• $13million for player development programs/services
• Minimum salary for players beyond their second season will be $100000

[The Adelaide Connection]

Forgive my ignorance, but whilst there is the general notion that 'all players get a pay rise' isn't the extra 20% cap space at each clubs discretion and won't it likely end up being gobbled up by the high end talent or recruiting blokes in?

Or are current contracts held to ransom and whatever the previous signed on figure is has to be adjusted by 20%? ie If Harry Highpants signed on last year for 4 years at $400k, does the remainder of his contract automatically adjust to $480k initially and then by the incremental 1% or so increases thereafter?