Cats talk pay cuts as they look forward
October 1, 2007 - 7:31PM
Amid their AFL premiership celebrations, Geelong are already thinking about player pay cuts as they aim for a dynasty.
One of the most dominant seasons in the game's history is certain to bring salary cap pressure.
President Frank Costa pointed to the willingness of Brisbane Lions players to modify their salaries to ensure the team stayed together during their 2001-03 three-peat.
"Those players decided to stay together, perhaps to create something very special - which they did," Costa told Channel 10.
"While they took a bit of a salary cut, they still got very well paid and that's what I think our guys are facing right now."
Ruckmen Steven King and Mark Blake are out of contract and Geelong had a record nine All-Australian selections, meaning bonuses for those players.
The Cats are placed perfectly for sustained on-field success - Darren Milburn is the oldest player at 30.
They also have a number in their early to mid-20s who have played around 100 games each.
Captain Tom Harley told SEN he was certainly receptive to taking a pay cut if it meant keeping the team together.
"I was talking to Brad Ottens after the game and he obviously left Richmond and he loved his time at Richmond, but he would play for five bucks next year," Harley said.
"The feelings that we've had, if you want to sacrifice that for money, you're absolutely kidding yourself.
"There's more to life, life is about experiences and enjoyment and you only have to be in this room right (with his team-mates) now to appreciate that."
Geelong held their "Mad Monday" fun and the club will celebrate hard before going over contracts from next week.
The other obvious matter needing immediate attention is a new deal for coach Mark Thompson.
With no salary cap restrictions there, the Cats are ready to reward him for outstanding work.
Thompson was furious this time last year with how a wide-ranging review of the club panned out, amid strong speculation his future was in doubt.
Now he will enter his eighth season as coach as the hero of Geelong, the man who engineered the breaking of the club's 44-year premiership drought.
"We'll have to sit down and negotiate fair and square and I would say he's earnt the right to negotiate upwards too," Costa told SEN.
"That will all be done in due course, we won't talk about it this week though."