AFL Western District has announced the club total team points and salary caps in the Mininera and District Football League for the 2020 season under the community club sustainability program.
The upcoming season will see an even spread between the teams, four sides have 47 player club total team points allocated while all others have 45.
AFL Western District announced the primary purpose of the program was to alleviate the financial pressure placed on clubs by the demands of player payments.
The governing body said clubs would need to be mindful the state-wide the existing caps would shortly begin to be consistently reduced to provide further financial relief to clubs.
In 2019, teams were spread out between a margin of five. Mininera chairperson John Box said the idea to bridge the gap was to bring in difference between the clubs.
"This year the Mininera board had input into the decision around the club points and salary caps because the AFL gave us that responsibility," he said.
"I thought we did make it a more even playing field.
"We gave the clubs the opportunity to write back to the board which I think only one club took up that opportunity.
"I think making it even is the way to do it. The way it was the club's weren't happy and I've had no feedback from the clubs at this stage although there is still time for them to put in a submission."
Club's are allocated a total amount of team points for each season. Each player is ranked at a certain level - from one point all the way through to six points.
Additional penalty points can be added to player's individual category as well as point deductions for years served at the club.
Each club has a $70,000 salary cap for the up coming season, the same figure as 2019.
"We did put in a request to move that figure to $80,000," Mr Box said.
"That was refused by the AFL. Throughout the other leagues no one seemed to worry about the salary cap too much, they are more interested in the points system."
Great Western's football operations manager Matt Delzotto said he welcomed the points change within the league.
"Anything which brings a closer parity for the clubs is good for the competition," he said.
"We've never really been close to our allocation of points so it doesn't have a great bearing on Great Western.
"We take it into consideration. You don't want to be in the embarrassing situation that you've recruited all these players and then they all can't play in the same team together.
"Majority of our players are local and we don't tend to get too close to the cap off."
Breakdown of point allocations:
Ararat Eagles; 2019 - 47, 2020 - 47.
Caramut; 2019 - 47, 2020 - 47.
Glenthompson-Dunkeld; 2019 - 42, 2020 - 45.
Great Western; 2019 - 47, 2020 - 45.
Hawkesdale-Macarthur; 2019 - 44, 2020 - 47.
Lismore-Derrinallum; 2019 - 42, 2020 - 45.
Moyston-Willaura; 2019 - 42, 2020 - 47.
Penshurst; 2019 - 42, 2020 - 45.
SMW Rovers; 2019 - 45, 2020 - 45.
Tatyoon; 2019 - 42, 2020 - 45.
Wickliffe-LakeBolac; 2019 - 43, 2020 - 45.
Woorndoo-Mortlake; 2019 - 45, 2019 - 45.
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Cassandra Langley
Rural and regional story-telling is where my passion lies. Email: cassandra.langley@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Rural and regional story-telling is where my passion lies. Email: cassandra.langley@austcommunitymedia.com.au
