COACH ‘TERRIFIED’ OF PLAYER EXODUS
WERRIBEE Centrals coach Nick Smith has pleaded with authorities to put a line through community football in 2020, conceding he is “terrified” about the impacts on his playing stocks.
As neighbouring metropolitan leagues weigh up whether to play on this season, Smith remains fearful his GDFL club will be raided, leaving the Centurions vulnerable next year and beyond.
While AFL Victoria is set to introduce a COVID-19 transfer permit in order to enable players to switch leagues this season before returning to their original club in 2021, Smith is concerned players will find loopholes and not come back.
“I think AFL Victoria just needs to pull the pin on it because I’m terrified about what might happen to our club,” Smith said.
“We had signed all of our players for this season, but all those contracts became immediately voided when they changed the salary cap because everything has to be renegotiated.
“So none of our players are actually contacted and I think you’ll find that’s the case with every club. And how do you resign players now when you don’t know what the cap will be?
“That’s why a lot of clubs in Geelong are coming out and asking for clarification on caps and points for next year because I wouldn’t want to release a playing under the current COVID transfer unless you knew he’s contracted.”
Smith said his club, which won’t play this season after AFL Barwon cancelled the 2020 premiership seasons in the GFL, BFL, GDFL and CDFL, would be unable to compete with the likes of a Western Region Football League club, which has a yearly salary cap of $240,000.
“Even if salary caps are halved next year, the WRFL comes down to $120,000 but we’re at $45,000,” Smith said.
“So what does that look like? If you divide it over a season it’s $2000 a game, which means we pay everyone $100 each a game. When our best players are probably earning $300-500. We can’t compete.”
Smith revealed he had already had players contact him about crossing to a rival league for a shortened season. The club is powerless to stop them.
“That’s concerning us a fair bit,” Smith said.
“Unfortunately now that they (AFL Victoria) is going to put in a COVID-19 transfer system, which is effectively an EPL loan system, we could lose some of our players.
“I have already had some of my players contact me and asked if they could play elsewhere, which is nice, but it’s tough. What are you meant to say? You don’t want one of your players to play anywhere else for a stack of reasons, but if I was a 24-yearold — like half my team is — and I was at the peak of my powers, I would consider playing somewhere else as well.” doing