Interested in exactly how this works. Carlton has bailed on "Northern Blues", and as a result they've folded. We've heard Box Hill may suffer the same fate.
Now running a VFL club isn't that cheap (relatively). The standalone VFL salary cap this year was $380k. The max salary cap for a local league is $200k.
The way I assumed it works with AFL alignments is that there's an agreement between the AFL club and VFL club - which might include the right to appoint the coach and name the club etc - but the AFL club basically pays the VFL club an annual amount to be the affiliate. On top of that they supply a number of players each week.
This works for the VFL club as without the cash and the "free" players, they may struggle to operate financially.
And it works for the AFL club as it's still cheaper than fielding their own VFL side, where they have to employ VFL-listed players and can't take advantage of any of the VFL club's matchday resources.
Am I right so far?
So what is happening now with these affiliates ending?
Does it mean Carlton has terminated the agreement, and without the cash "Northern Blues" (Preston) are insolvent, which is why they've folded?
And why would this happen to other clubs, as has been rumoured? What happens in 2021? It's going to be such a tough time financially, surely AFL clubs would seek VFL affiliates rather than having their own VFL side?
Eg, Carlton next year - financially, surely they'll want an affiliate? Could Preston therefore come back?
For those unaware - 2020 affiliates are Carlton/Northern Blues, Hawthorn/Box Hill, Melbourne/Casey and St Kilda/Sandringham. The other six AFL clubs field their own VFL teams. Coburg, Frankston, Werribee, Williamstown and Port Melbourne are unaffiliated VFL clubs.
Now running a VFL club isn't that cheap (relatively). The standalone VFL salary cap this year was $380k. The max salary cap for a local league is $200k.
The way I assumed it works with AFL alignments is that there's an agreement between the AFL club and VFL club - which might include the right to appoint the coach and name the club etc - but the AFL club basically pays the VFL club an annual amount to be the affiliate. On top of that they supply a number of players each week.
This works for the VFL club as without the cash and the "free" players, they may struggle to operate financially.
And it works for the AFL club as it's still cheaper than fielding their own VFL side, where they have to employ VFL-listed players and can't take advantage of any of the VFL club's matchday resources.
Am I right so far?
So what is happening now with these affiliates ending?
Does it mean Carlton has terminated the agreement, and without the cash "Northern Blues" (Preston) are insolvent, which is why they've folded?
And why would this happen to other clubs, as has been rumoured? What happens in 2021? It's going to be such a tough time financially, surely AFL clubs would seek VFL affiliates rather than having their own VFL side?
Eg, Carlton next year - financially, surely they'll want an affiliate? Could Preston therefore come back?
For those unaware - 2020 affiliates are Carlton/Northern Blues, Hawthorn/Box Hill, Melbourne/Casey and St Kilda/Sandringham. The other six AFL clubs field their own VFL teams. Coburg, Frankston, Werribee, Williamstown and Port Melbourne are unaffiliated VFL clubs.