SA Footy

SANFL clubs are to be allowed to sign a “marquee player’’ next season as part of sweeping changes to the salary cap.

With the cap cut from $400,000 to $210,000 next year as the league deals with the financial fallout from COVID-19, each club can have one marquee player, who is eligible to sign for a maximum up-front payment of $25,000.

This does not include match payments, with the best players commanding about $750 a game, but the cost must be included in each club’s cap.

The deal has been negotiated with the stand-alone eight SANFL clubs as the league attempts to keep its standard high while reducing costs.

Under the new payment schedule, clubs can also sign ex-AFL players who are going back to their SANFL clubs for a maximum of $20,000. All other sign-on payments are capped at $15,000.

The SANFL is still negotiating with AFL clubs Adelaide and Port Adelaide about their re-entry into the competition after both clubs were forced to withdraw reserves sides from the State League this year because of COVID-19.

“The change was implemented to give clubs a bit more flexibility with their lists, an option to get a bigger name player if they want one,’’ SANFL general manager football Matt Duldig said of the marquee player payment.

With the SANFL cutting costs in the short term, player sign-on fees have been cut by an average of $5000.

While there is concern about key players leaving the competition because of the massive salary-cap cut, players will financially benefit from the JobKeeper program running until March, which lessens the financial blow.

Players this year played only for JobKeeper payment because of the significant financial impact of the pandemic and a cap on crowds.

“We must ensure that every SANFL club can be sustainable and successful into the future,’’ Duldig said. “To do this, we must make player payments affordable for all clubs to ensure an even competition.”

How crazy. Just have a salary cap that is decent to attract players . If it had to be cut then just cut it and add on the 25K . EG Its 235k .Should not have been cut to start with IMO.

Well maybe there is a lot more financial pain heading the SANFL's way. I am unsure of what dividend goes into the SANFL pool but my Adelaide Oval membership renewal for season 2021 is $31.00 as I redeemed one ticket during season 2020. Will be interested to learn what the percentages are if anyone knows.

Anyone noticed the usually vocal clubs have not made any public comment about the cap reduction?

Dutchy wrote:Anyone noticed the usually vocal clubs have not made any public comment about the cap reduction?

That's because clubs are working on the new method to pay players which will turn out to be the old method.

DOC wrote:

Dutchy wrote:Anyone noticed the usually vocal clubs have not made any public comment about the cap reduction?

That's because clubs are working on the new method to pay players which will turn out to be the old method.

The age old method? [emoji383]

Yep.

I expect to see if the cap stays low and sign on fees are around 20k that a lot more players will seek to move to get sign on fees. Does not reward or encourage loyalty.

Dutchy wrote:Anyone noticed the usually vocal clubs have not made any public comment about the cap reduction?

Salary cap has never been an issue at Norwood. They play for love to the club there.

DOC wrote:Yep.

I expect to see if the cap stays low and sign on fees are around 20k that a lot more players will seek to move to get sign on fees. Does not reward or encourage loyalty.

I assume this only applies to recently delisted AFL players ($20,000) who go back to their SANFL club where they were drafted from. Wouldn't think this would create a lot of movement.

No.

Applies to all players. Time will tell but for those who are only in it for the money the reduced salary cap makes the switching between clubs and the lure of a sign on fee even more attractive.

I mentioned the lack of income heading to the SANFL via the massive reduction of revenue with Adelaide Oval membership. Eg my payment should have been $690.00 and it was $31.00 this year. I have since found out that more than half of the A O membership income goes into the SANFL pool so this has, and will, dramatically reduce any dividends, if any, to each club.

DOC wrote:No.

Applies to all players. Time will tell but for those who are only in it for the money the reduced salary cap makes the switching between clubs and the lure of a sign on fee even more attractive.

I understand the $15,000 could apply to all transfer but I would think the $20,000 would only apply to a few. Still think the $25K for a marquee player should be paid out side the salary cap or make the cap $235K and spread the money more evenly.

I hate the concept of the marquee player.

DOC wrote:I hate the concept of the marquee player.

Completely agree.

For the AFL sides, all the listed players are on minimum $100k, they have at least a dozen marquee players running around every week.

For the SANFL sides, just add $25k on to the salary cap and let the clubs do as they wish with it. They’ll be hard pressed just to retain players, let alone attract new ones.

AFL players average wage to drop 3.5%...

$14.5m salary cap down to $13.1m (9% drop).

List size drop from 47 to 44.

Big sacrifices at the top end of town...

Will the salary cap go up for next season or 2023?
I thought the SANFL made heaps of money selling footy Park does anyone know what happened to that money?
Does channel 7 pay the SANFL any money for showing the games or is it essentially free advertising?

Panther Pack wrote:Will the salary cap go up for next season or 2023?
I thought the SANFL made heaps of money selling footy Park does anyone know what happened to that money?
Does channel 7 pay the SANFL any money for showing the games or is it essentially free advertising?

No. Excluding the AFL clubs 7/8 of the SANFL clubs can't afford for it to go back to what it was.

Wedgie wrote:Excluding the AFL clubs 7/8 of the SANFL clubs can't afford for it to go back to what it was.

Yeah not sure that’s correct.

Wedgie wrote:

Panther Pack wrote:Will the salary cap go up for next season or 2023?
I thought the SANFL made heaps of money selling footy Park does anyone know what happened to that money?
Does channel 7 pay the SANFL any money for showing the games or is it essentially free advertising?

No. Excluding the AFL clubs 7/8 of the SANFL clubs can't afford for it to go back to what it was.

Which club can afford it?

Panther Pack wrote:

Wedgie wrote:

Panther Pack wrote:Will the salary cap go up for next season or 2023?
I thought the SANFL made heaps of money selling footy Park does anyone know what happened to that money?
Does channel 7 pay the SANFL any money for showing the games or is it essentially free advertising?

No. Excluding the AFL clubs 7/8 of the SANFL clubs can't afford for it to go back to what it was.

Which club can afford it?

$trut I'd say