AFL boosts wage offer

ONE IN, ALL IN: Execs will match player cuts

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan yesterday gave an undertaking to match any pay cut accepted by the players in a bid to break the wages impasse.

McLachlan and the league executive had previously committed to a 20 per cent pay cut, while asking the 850 players to cop an 80 per cent wages reduction to help the game survive the coronavirus crisis.

The AFL said the undertaking was given in discussions with AFL Players’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh.

McLachlan’s concession came after veteran agent Peter Jess yesterday called for the AFL executive team to match the player pay cuts.

Talks edged closer to a resolution yesterday, but the AFLPA wants access to the league’s books.

Players president Patrick Dangerfield yesterday said full transparency was required from the AFL so the players could make the right decision.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett warned that players could be stood down without pay and the season cancelled if they didn’t agree to the AFL’s demands.

Jess said if it was good enough for the players to take an 80 per cent cut, it was good enough for the AFL administration and all senior club staff “as demonstrated by Geelong coach Chris Scott”.

The league had previously indicated its 12-person executive would be taking pay cuts of 20 per cent this year.

Australian Securities and Investment Commission documents reveal the same dozen AFL executives took home $10.56 million in combined wages last year, an average salary of $880,000.

A 20 per cent hair cut this year would see them take home an average wage of $704,000, despite the game’s financial catastrophe.

McLachlan’s salary was last publicly disclosed at $1.74 million three years ago.

All 12 AFL executives have been retained at AFL House after Monday’s industry-wide stand downs.

“If it’s one in, it’s all in,” Jess said. “That’s the Australian way — when you don’t dud your mates.

“It’s not the fault of the players that this has happened. The whole risk burden should be shared across the whole football portfolio.

“There is absolutely no reason that the executive should be a group by themselves.

“The leadership of Chris Scott (who has surrendered his full wage until May 31) is in direct contrast to the attitude of the AFL administrators.

“It is in these times where you see the emergence of true leadership.”

Jess said an agreement to defer payments to players this season was the obvious solution in striking a compromise between the AFL and AFLPA over wages. Players could accept a hefty pay cut today and recoup payments or retirement benefits once the game has recovered.

“When the money comes back, these guys can be looked after. That is a far more palatable solution than a permanent impairment of their wages,” he said.

He said the AFL management team was not appropriately prepared for the coronavirus wipeout.