In todays Mercury
http://www.themercury.com.au/sport/...t/news-story/57ca9ac6529c23242f99636b2befd0ff
THE party is almost over for players banking big bucks to play second-tier football with an audited points system and enforced salary cap on the way for all community league clubs.
The inaugural Future of Football Forum in Launceston yesterday agreed it was time to stop lower level clubs from outbidding the premier competition – the Tasmanian State League – in the race for players.
Within two years, the TSL will offer the best pay to players, with a descending capacity in terms of player payments down through the community leagues.
“Imagine it like a waterfall – the top competition pays the most, the second-top competitions pay a bit less and so on down through the competitions,” said AFL Tasmania boss Rob Auld.
“I don’t have a precise dollar value on a player or per week basis other than to say as long as it’s transparent, contracted, enforceable and able to be audited, then a salary cap and points system serves the purpose of a balanced frame work.”
A points system should be in place for every second-tier competition by first bounce next season.
Each club will be allocated a total of 40 points per game, with homegrown players worth one point and the most experienced imports costing the maximum six points.
The aim is to encourage clubs to focus on homegrown product and less on forking out big dollars on recruits.
“The current challenge that clubs and leagues face is sustainability, with the veracity of competition for players,” Auld said. “You end up with an unsustainable economy that clubs continue to feed and you run the risk of driving clubs and leagues into extinction if you let it go ungoverned.
“For clubs with the capacity to pay players above the salary cap, you encourage them by way of the points system to reinvest that money back into really strong junior programs because players in future years who have come through your junior program attract the least amount of points.”
The TSL will not be subject to the points system. Its salary cap is not likely to increase on its $85,000 level next season.
The funding that went to Prospect Hawks will be used as a “special projects” fund that clubs can apply to access.
Auld said this might include coaching development or infrastructure.