THE English Premier League is hardly a league at all.
It has really been two separate leagues - a contest between a "big four" of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal - and then a host of other clubs making up the numbers, and otherwise wasting their time.
By virtue of their prestige, success and, bank balances, the English soccer cartel has had a virtual mortgage on the cup.
This year my club has broken the cartel. Yay for Manchester City. Sadly, that has only happened because an Arab billionaire with plenty to splash on superstars bought the club. Right now I don't care - suffer in your jocks, Liverpiddle!
The AFL, like the A-League, does not have this problem. Thanks to the draft and salary cap, a small, well managed club like the Western Bulldogs, is a flag favourite.
But footy fans shouldn't get too smug. Because there is no shortage of country and metro football competitions that are every bit as lopsided as the EPL, and for much the same reason.
Former Essendon and Geelong larrikin John Barnes was the keynote speaker at last week's Ballarat Football League launch at Melton.
Barnes, who coaches Essendon District club Doutta Stars, said the EDFL might as well just give the premiership trophy to Maribyrnong Park right now.
That's because the reigning premier is spending twice as much as anyone else on players, and the Doutta Stars and other clubs don't really have a hope.
That syndrome is not limited to the EDFL. Gordon coach Craig Baker admits it is impossible for his club to compete with the Central Highlands Football League's own "big four".
"In all reality, we're out of our depth," he says.
"Clubs will go broke. Even the rich clubs don't win $100,000 for winning a premiership. You get the glory but that doesn't pay the players, so once the money runs out .th.th.
"Personally, I think $100,000 a year (on players) is way too much for a Central Highlands club. It should be closer to $60,000. If a major league like the BFL was spending $150,000 maybe that's fair enough."
Barnes supported a points system, like that trialled by the BFL a couple of years ago. Players are rated according to the highest level of footy they had played, and a club would be limited by how many points it could have, forcing them to share the love.
Baker, on the other hand, backs a salary cap.
Either method, though, is doomed if leagues try to implement it themselves. If the CHFL put in a salary cap, for example, and policed it among its own clubs, you could bet clubs from neighbouring leagues would be circling like sharks.
Whether it's a points system or a salary cap, it's time for the VCFL to do something and tell leagues "this is how it is".
Even if there's an in-principle salary cap, we might just see some equalisation happen.
Well-run clubs will still prosper. Successful clubs will still win premierships and footy clubs won't go broke.
In the meantime Gordon's best hope remains an Arab billionaire.
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