Sustainable future behind policy push

Awimmera-mallee football leader has emphasised the importance of player payment and equalisation policies after a Wimmera league club breached rules.

Australian Football League Wimmera Mallee region manager Jason Muldoon said football authorities introduced the Community Club Sustainability Policy, CCSP, outlining allowable player-payments following club and league feedback about unsustainable increases in football-player payments.

“The policy paper was introduced because there was feedback from clubs and leagues about how much was being spent in paying players, and a need to bring some accountability to that. Obviously, there was an equalisation component of that policy as well,” Mr Muldoon said.

He said the policy formed after consultation with clubs. It was later endorsed statewide.

“In essence, the policy is there to make clubs more sustainable and control spending. It shouldn’t be seen as a negative document, but a positive one for the future of Victorian football going forward,” he said.

Mr Muldoon said there was always room for more education at club and league level regarding such policies.

“There is support from AFLWM if clubs needed it,” he said.

The current player points system was introduced during the 2016 season. A broader player-payment framework was adopted the following year.

He said policies were constantly in review and AFLWM had an annual chance, through an advisory committee, to consider updates or changes.

“Perhaps COVID-19 has changed the way we operate as an industry and we have a state CCSP working group that is constantly looking at the policy and is there to consider changes if need be,” Mr Muldoon said.

“There were a few changes to player points this year and the exclusion of a few points criteria with the return of sport post COVID-19 restrictions. It is a moving document.”

Wimmera league’s Dimboola received a 12 premiership-point deduction for the 2022 season and the club was fined $10,000 with a further $10,000 suspended after breaching player-payment reporting during the 2021 season.

Mr Muldoon said the incident reiterated the importance of education and awareness of the rules.

“The AFLWM is not here to destroy clubs, but to enforce the policies and aim hold clubs to operate within CCSP policy. That’s what we want every year,” he said.

“We would love to do audits every year and find nothing, but obviously when something is found, we have to look at alternatives. That’s what happened here. It was the first time the region has completed an audit and it’s a reminder for all clubs to operate within the rules.”

Mr Muldoon said he had the utmost respect for Dimboola and said while they had done the wrong thing, club officials were honest throughout the audit proces.

“Dimboola is a proud club and it was probably not an easy decision to swallow. Going forward, they should benefit from what they have learned,” he said.