IT’S unanimous – every Ballarat Football League club wants a player points system introduced as soon as possible.
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However, question marks remain over how the proposed salary cup, to be implemented by AFL Victoria in 2016, will be enforced.
When contacted by The Courier on Thursday, all 11 BFL clubs said they were in full support of a points system, and called for it to happen with minimal delay.
The proposed system and salary cap will be introduced statewide in a bid to curb skyrocketing player payments.
A trial will be introduced among certain leagues next year, although it is not known what competitions will be involved.
However, it is looming likely a trial will be adopted in the BFL.
The undeniable consensus among BFL presidents was that a points system was needed immediately.
Even reigning back-to-back premier North Ballarat City threw its full support behind the move, despite currently being an unstoppable force in the BFL.
North City president Peter Carey labelled the move a “no-brainer”, adding football needed a cultural change where players were no longer driven solely by money.
“The costs for all clubs is just unsustainable,” he said. “It’s taking a lot of the joy out of it for club people, who are nearly all volunteers. We’ve been advocating for this for years.”
The move was also backed by Sunbury which, before this year, was considered one of the higher spending clubs within the league.
Lions president Jack Ogilvie said the proposal was the reality check that country football needed.
“Local football should ... be something people enjoy, but having to come up with ridiculous amounts of money takes the joy out of it.”
The Ballarat Football League, not known for its high player payments despite its reputation as one of the strongest country leagues in Victoria, will hold a board meeting next month where it will decide whether the club will take part in next year’s trial.
BFL operations manager Aaron Nunn said the issues involved with implementing a statewide system were complex.
“Now it is about talking to the board and talking about their willingness to take part in a trial,” he said. “There are a wide range of issues that need to be resolved. It is not just a matter of implementing a salary cap and points system and being right to go.”
AFL Victoria announced its plans on Wednesday at a statewide leagues conference as a means to curb sky-rocketing player payments throughout the state.
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
What the clubs say
• Bacchus Marsh football manager Adam Sutherland: “It’s getting harder and harder to compete financially. If the points system is across the state, it can only be a good thing.”
• Ballarat president Shane Manley: “I think something has to be done to stop the crazy situation we have in country football. I’m definitely a big fan of the points system.”
• Darley president Grant Wright: “As long as it happens across the board, it is a great idea. There’s not a big problem in the BFL; it’s the other leagues that poach our players.”
• East Point president Maurice O’Keefe: “I can see the points system working well, but my gut feel is that clubs will always rort a salary cap.”
• Lake Wendouree president Dave Clifton: “I don’t know if the salary cap is enforceable, but I’m a big fan of the points system. I’d be happy to see it brought in next season.”
• Melton president Stephen Bartlett: “There are always going to be clubs paying in different ways to get around the salary cap. How the points are allocated is always going to be hard.”
• Melton South president Peter Earl: “The points system is a good idea, but I don’t see how the salary cap would work.”
• North Ballarat City president Peter Carey: “It’s a no-brainer. We’ve been advocating for this for years. The cost for all clubs is not sustainable.”
• Redan president Peter Britt: “We’ve got an open mind on it. The idea has merit. It will benefit the clubs with a good junior base.”
• Sebastopol president Chris Parker: “Absolutely, we’re in support of it. It’s probably overdue. The devil is in the detail and it has to be structured correctly.”
• Sunbury president Jack Ogilvie: “Country football is starting to become unsustainable. I would love to see the trials come to the BFL.”