PINE NEEDLE

AFL refuses to expand interchange to six

THE AFL will save up to $2 million in match payments and player bonuses by denying coaches access to extra players on the interchange bench this season.

The financial implication was one of football boss Steve Hocking’s considerations in deciding whether to lock in four bench players.

Some coaches have been pushing for access to five or six

SAM LANDSBERGER

bench players in 2020 to provide competitive minutes to more players, given they cannot participate in state leagues.

But with 16-minute quarters, 90 rotations and weekly games the AFL believes there is no need to increase bench sizes.

The league is determined to remain flexible this year. However,

the idea of altering the playing conditions after Round 1 also counted against the change. But it is desperate to shed expenses, and will save more than $50 million by shrinking each club’s football department “soft” cap.

The AFL has taken on the expense of player payments during the COVID-19 period, although club distributions usually cover the $13 million salary cap anyway.

The NRL has guaranteed its $10 million player salary cap won’t be reduced next season and the AFL Players’ Association is fighting hard, albeit against all odds, to win the same assurance.

Coaches who called for the expanded interchange may have used emerging talent as their 23rd or 24th players, much as when they employed the substitute rule of 2011-15 to blood youngsters.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, first-year, second-year and rookie-listed players receive match payments of $4000 to $5000.

They also receive bonuses, ranging from $3000 to $12,000, depending how many games they play.

While those payments will be slashed 50 per cent due to this year’s pay cuts, payments for extended interchange benches would have added up to a seven-figure sum.

Increasing the interchange from four to six players would have seen an extra 36 players on the field every week.

If they received match payments of $2500 (after 50 per cent cuts), that would equate to $90,000 a round, and $1.53 million for the rest of the season. Contract bonuses hit by more players would only increase that figure.

Players fined by the match review officer this year will have their penalties cut in half.

While the season will restart in the usual ThursdaySunday format, some short breaks have been included.

Western Bulldogs must play three games in 12 days, which includes a trip to Sydney, from Rounds 2-4.