Footy admin move possible

Ellinbank and District Football League may come under the umbrella of AFL Gippsland Regional Administration Centre next season.

The majority of senior and junior football leagues in the region are already centrally administered by AFL Gippsland.

Regional general manager Travis Switzer said AFL Gippsland had met with EDFL clubs and the clubs and league’s board of management have also held separate meetings to consider the change from its independent administration.

Mr Switzer said he was hopeful a decision was imminent.

The football off-season will be a busy time for AFL Gippsland.

The commission has started a review of salary caps and the players points systems relating the individual clubs and leagues.

Contact will be made with all clubs and leagues to gather their views on whether changes are needed.

Mr Switzer said there may need to be tightening of salary caps in some leagues, especially the district leagues, and it was also possible there could be a reduced cap on player payments in Gippsland League.

When introduced in community football this year AFL Victoria foreshadowed an aim to reduce total player payments over time as part of its strategy to reduce growing financial pressures on clubs and to provide more balanced competitions.

The commission hopes to finalise both the points systems and salary caps by the end of the month.

Also occupying a lot of AFL Gippsland thoughts will be the review of junior football, particularly the under-age competitions associated with senior leagues.

A number of clubs throughout the region weren’t able to field at least one, and in some cases two, teams this year while some others struggled to field full sides each week.