WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Record Article (NO.11)
STATEWIDE PLAYER POINTS SYSTEM ROLLS OUT
With the recent rollout of the statewide Player Points System, feedback from Metropolitan Leagues and Region Commissions suggests the policy is proving a welcome measure so far.
Aimed at addressing equalisation concerns and escalating player payments, the Player Points System is one half of the Community Club Sustainability Program in 2016, with a Players Salary Cap set to be introduced in 2017.
AFL Victoria Club Sustainability Manager, Darryl Collings said the implementation of the program had been well supported throughout the State.
“The feedback we have received to date has been largely positive, with Metropolitan Leagues and Region Commission working closely with their clubs to implement the framework,” Collings said.
“The enhancements made to the Footyweb system have assisted in making the system as transparent as possible, with all player point allocations now available in the results section of each of the competitions websites.
“In the next few weeks, the Working Party that developed the Points system, will be seeking formal feedback from Metropolitan Leagues and Region Commission reviewing all aspects of the Points System with a focus on how it may be improved for future seasons. It’s important the clubs and leagues continue to be part of the solution.”
One Region Commission already seeing the benefits of the Player Points System this season is AFL Barwon. Region General Manager, Lee Hartman, said the response from clubs to the Points System has been largely positive.
“All the clubs have been really good with getting on board, and that was needed for this to work,” Hartman said.
A top priority for AFL Barwon in implementing the Player Points System was to ensure it remains feasible for local clubs.
“The main thing for us was to make sure the system was manageable for clubs,” Hartman said.
The system, which sees each club allocatedup to 50 points to distribute across its playing group, has so far proven an effective measure in handling playing lists.
“Initially, we were offering 40 points and some clubs thought that wasn’t enough,” Hartman said.
“There have only been one or two clubs that have used that maximum points though, so I think we’ve got it right.”
With the AFL Working Party giving Metropolitan Leagues and Region Commissions the flexibility 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, Hartman said AFL Barwon is seeing progressive changes in retention and recruitment.
“We’ve been able to retain players and we’ve seen some return to original home clubs because they’re worth only one point.
“We’ve seen clubs that traditionally went on big recruiting sprees unable to do that, and they have had to be more strategic around recruitment, so there are plenty of benefits,” said Hartman.
For more information on the Community Club Sustainability Program, please visit aflvic.com.au