The Geelong District Football and Netball League has called for salary cap parity with the Bellarine after requesting AFL Barwon further increase the limit determined in 2025.
As reported by K Rock Football on Monday, AFL Barwon will implement a tiered structure for the salary cap and the player points system next year.
The GDFNL’s base salary cap has increased $5000 from $70,000 to $75,000, while the Bellarine’s has jumped from $80,000 to $85,000.
Both leagues then tier to $81,000 and $90,000, respectively.
GDFNL president Neville Whitley wants a league-wide $85,000 cap for his competition.
“We want to have a figure that’s competitive with the Bellarine,” Whitley said.
“We believe our league should be in line where we can compete with the Bellarine clubs if you’re recruiting a player.
“If you have a player who needs few dollars, and our salary cap is lower, we miss out on that player.
“We believe we need to be competitive and even.”
Whitley says the GDFNL’s 12 member clubs want the salary cap to be the same across the competition.
“You don’t have to spend that money if you can’t afford it,” Whitley said
“And the idea is to have a cap where clubs can keep themselves viable and pay a figure that’s not going to send them to the wall.”
The GDFNL is comfortable with the tiered points limit, which starts at 40 for this year’s top six and finishes at 46 for the bottom two (Geelong West and Corio).
However, Whitley would like more flexibility for players coming out of junior football and changing clubs, especially those leaving a club with multiple under-18 teams.
“The under-18 boys that come from a GFL club carry three points,” he said.
“That means those players are going to be lost to football if they’re not recruited.
“You may be better off getting a fringe player from the GFL reserves who plays some senior games because they’d be a three-pointer as well.”
X: @krockfootball
