AFL Victoria has finalised a statewide Player Points System which will be implemented as part of the Community Club Sustainability Program in 2016.
After reviewing feedback from Metropolitan Leagues and Region Commissions following the release of a draft framework in May, the AFL Victoria Working Party has released a policy which addresses the equalisation concerns and escalating player payments in community football.
A PPS will be implemented by all Metropolitan Leagues and Region Commissions in season 2016, while the Players Salary Cap will be adopted in 2017.
“A large majority of Metropolitan Leagues and Region Commissions viewed the implementation of the Player Points System and the Players Salary Cap in potentially the same year as too much for clubs, and that there needed to be a more phased-in approach,” AFL Victoria community football and engagement manager Brett Connell said.
“Given the feedback suggested, the Players Salary Cap program required further detail and investigation, the sub-committee believes it will be best suited to a 2017 implementation, with training and education relating to the salary cap to begin across the 2016 season.”
A maximum of 50 total team points has been allocated to all clubs across the state, with the AFL Working Party giving further flexibility to Metropolitan Leagues and Region Commissions to apply either a one or two point reduction for players that have met the season of service clause in 2015, to participate with the same club in 2016.
Metropolitan Leagues and Region Commissions will also be able to determine at their own discretion the timing of publicising their total team points to their affiliated clubs.
“As long as all of their affiliated clubs are 50 points or under they will not need to seek prior approval from the Community Club Sustainability Program sub-committee in the first year,” Connell said.
“Metropolitan Leagues and Region Commissions will need to apply to the sub-committee should any of their affiliated clubs require more than 50 total team points.”
