Sunbury coach Travis Hodgson says balancing player payments under a new salary cap was among the first challenges as work began on finalising next year's list. He said he it was not simply a matter of making pro rata cuts across the board in line with the reduced salary cap. Hodgson said each player had to be considered independently. He said some substantial cuts had to be considered. The Ballarat Football League's club salary cap has been reduced by $40,000 to $100,000 - a decrease of 29 per cent - as part of a statewide move by AFL Victoria. Hodgson said with cuts across the board, he was confident there would be little change to the Lions' list. Sunbury, and other eastern BFL clubs, have historically had had issues with retaining or attracting players in the face of neighboring metropolitan leagues having salary cups up to $200,000. Essendon District Football League's premier division cap is now the same as the BFL, having been halved. "It's ideal for us," Hodgson said. He said it would be a much fairer environment when competing for players' services. This is a view shared by fellow BFL clubs Melton, Melton South, Darley and Bacchus Marsh, which look to the metropolitan area for the bulk of their high profile recruits. Hodgson said although the payment reduction would narrow down opportunities to add to Sunbury's list for 2021, it was working to leave some space. He said while happy with their player stocks, the Lions were open to getting an additional key defender. "That's the only question mark we have in our make up." Sunbury added substantially to its midfield and on-ball ranks at the end of 2019, but has not covered the loss of Grant Valles and Daylan Kempster down back. Sunbury's recruits for the 2020 season, which did not get off the ground owing to COVID-19, included VFL experienced Daniel Toman (Woodend-Heskett), Mathew Medcraft (Wangaratta Rovers), Tyson Lever (Glenroy and Coburg VFL-listed) Harrison Minton-Connell (Aberfeldie and Coburg VFL-listed), Tom Cree (East Sunbury), Haydn Ross (Riddell) and Jake Sutton (Rupertswood). Hodgson, a former premiership player with Sunbury, led the Lions to fourth position in his first season in charge last year. Sunbury lost an elmination final to Melton in a second half fade out.
Sunbury coach Travis Hodgson says balancing player payments under a new salary cap was among the first challenges as work began on finalising next year's list.
He said he it was not simply a matter of making pro rata cuts across the board in line with the reduced salary cap.
Hodgson said each player had to be considered independently.
He said some substantial cuts had to be considered.
The Ballarat Football League's club salary cap has been reduced by $40,000 to $100,000 - a decrease of 29 per cent - as part of a statewide move by AFL Victoria.
Hodgson said with cuts across the board, he was confident there would be little change to the Lions' list.
Sunbury, and other eastern BFL clubs, have historically had had issues with retaining or attracting players in the face of neighboring metropolitan leagues having salary cups up to $200,000.
Essendon District Football League's premier division cap is now the same as the BFL, having been halved.
"It's ideal for us," Hodgson said.
He said it would be a much fairer environment when competing for players' services.
This is a view shared by fellow BFL clubs Melton, Melton South, Darley and Bacchus Marsh, which look to the metropolitan area for the bulk of their high profile recruits.
Hodgson said although the payment reduction would narrow down opportunities to add to Sunbury's list for 2021, it was working to leave some space.
He said while happy with their player stocks, the Lions were open to getting an additional key defender.
"That's the only question mark we have in our make up."
Travis Hodgson
Sunbury added substantially to its midfield and on-ball ranks at the end of 2019, but has not covered the loss of Grant Valles and Daylan Kempster down back.
Sunbury's recruits for the 2020 season, which did not get off the ground owing to COVID-19, included VFL experienced Daniel Toman (Woodend-Heskett), Mathew Medcraft (Wangaratta Rovers), Tyson Lever (Glenroy and Coburg VFL-listed) Harrison Minton-Connell (Aberfeldie and Coburg VFL-listed), Tom Cree (East Sunbury), Haydn Ross (Riddell) and Jake Sutton (Rupertswood).
Hodgson, a former premiership player with Sunbury, led the Lions to fourth position in his first season in charge last year.
Sunbury lost an elmination final to Melton in a second half fade out.
