Sunbury coach Ben Jordan says the Lions are struggling to be competitive in a high-priced recruiting environment on the northern fringe of metropolitan Melbourne.
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Jordan, in his first season in the job, said Sunbury was unable to match the financial offers by clubs with substantially higher salary caps in the neighbouring Essendon District and Western Region football leagues.
The Ballarat Football League has club salary caps of $140,000 – substantially less than the top divisions in the EDFL and WRFL at $250,000.
Jordan said it was highly competitive and Sunbury was not in the ball park when chasing “A grade” players with VFL, TAC Cup or representative experience.
He said even the lower tiers had higher caps than the BFL.
Jordan said until the disparity was addressed and the gap closed, sustaining a list with the quality required was not going to get easier and Sunbury was in danger of becoming a “backwater”.
He said the club was not prepared deny homegrown players a fitting reward to attract too many high-priced recruits.
Jordan is struggling to cover a mass exodus of players, with almost half of last year’s grand final line-up having left.
Lively onballer and match-winner Matthew Medcraft and Jack Sullivan are the latest to move on.
Medcraft is going to Queensland and Sullivan plans to pursue a career as a professional firefighter.
They join other departures Josh Burgess (Rupertswood), Jack Landt (Essendon Doutta Stars), Jess McInerney (Sunshine), Ben McInerney (Sunshine), Joe Redfern (Coolamon) and Chris Tsadarkis (Sunbury Kangaroos).
Grant Valles is also expected to unavailable owing to travel.
Jordan, who replaced Rick Horwood, acknowledged that recruiting wes never going to easy given the late nature of his appointment at the end of October.
He remains confident of adding to the Lions’ list in the next few weeks.
Sunbury will open its season in a Good Friday blockbuster against Melton South at Melton on April 14.
In contrast to Sunbury, Melton South has attracted a wealth of newcomers, led by former Carlton and Brisbane Lions full forward Brendan Fevola as joint coach. Others include Nick Komma (Essendon AFL), Matt Notman (Melton), Mitch Banner (Darley), Mark Lynch (Aberfeldie), Ben Peters (Gordon), Shannon Broadbent (Kangaroo Flat), Munir El Houli (Newport) and Adam El Houli (Deer Park).
