Salary cap and points system set for Peel Football League 2017 season

The player-monitoring methods have been introduced by the WA Country Football League and Peel Football League respectively, in a bid to level the playing field for country clubs.

Under the salary cap established by the WACFL, clubs can pay players no more than $500 per match with the exception of one marquee player, who must have AFL experience or at least 50 state league games under their belt, who can be paid up to $1000 per match.

The cap will be enforced throughout the state, but many current recruits are contracted to earn far beyond the $500 match payments.

Clubs who fail to comply with the salary cap bylaws will receive possible penalties such as a loss of premiership points and fines up to $5,000.

WACFL general manager Joe Georgiades said the cap was a significant step towards relieving financial pressure on country football clubs and equalising competitions.

“Player payments will be capped but clubs will still have incentives to attract marquee players, celebrity players and player/coaches to ensure the quality, vibrancy and appeal of local competitions is retained,” he said.

“The WACFL will monitor the introduction of the bylaws and work closely with leagues and clubs to ensure they have a complete understanding of the laws and associated penalties including loss of match points and fines.”

Since the salary cap became public, a number of country football fans voiced concerns for smaller clubs.

Many believe the salary cap could place pressure on rural and remote clubs, which rely on paying recruits to field a side each week.

Peel Football League chairman Barry Butterworth said while the WACFL’s initiative to equalise competitions was noble, many questions surrounded the salary cap.

“We’ve only just received the bylaws overnight and we’ve got some further questions to ask, but overall it won’t affect the Peel Football League too much,” he said.

“Clubs in our league, like Waroona for example, have built a very strong basis of local players and don’t tend to rely on recruits too much compared to some other leagues.”

The PFL will also introduce a player points system next season.

Each club will be allocated 35 points, with local players costing them just a single point and ex-AFL talent costing five.

Any player recruited from first grade state level (such as WAFL league) will cost a club four points, while WAFL reserves players will be worth three.

A player that switches community clubs would be worth two points.

“We’ve set up the points system to encourage players to be loyal to their local club,” Butterworth said.

“As it’s our first year with it, we will monitor and review the system and change it if need be, to make sure all clubs are treated fairly and equally.”