LOCAL football clubs keen to find out what conditions they will play under in 2021 will have to wait until the second half of the year to get a clearer indication of those parameters.
Anglesea coach Paul Nigro called on AFL Barwon on Monday to provide clarity on a range of issues, including next year’s salary cap, player points values and the status of contracts signed for 2020 following last week’s decision to cancel the home-and-away season.
AFL Barwon Region General Manager Will McGregor said they will be among the agenda items when AFL Victoria’s Community Clubs Sustainability Program Committee, of which he is a member, meets next week.
“While we do have some other competitions looking to potentially commence, factors such as salary caps and player points will take a little bit of time before bedding down,” he said.
“We will start some consultation with clubs regarding 2021 salary caps and get their views if they believe there should be any adjustments based on the COVID situation and where they see their finances sitting.”
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MEANWHILE, McGregor says AFL Barwon plans to inform clubs early next week of its concept for a modified season.
Clubs are due to give feedback by Wednesday (June 17) on the proposals put forward.
“We put two differing concepts out there, and I believe there has been initial interest in one of the concepts in particular,” McGregor said.
“We’ll gauge that feedback, make some adjustments, and in the next few days be able to put something out a bit more concrete for clubs to decide whether they want to opt-in.”
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McGregor said no cut-off date had been set for a decision on whether the modified season will go ahead, with AFL Barwon waiting for a further announcement from the State Government on the easing of restrictions around crowd numbers.
He also said August 15 remains the target start date.
“We haven’t changed the dates at this point because we want to ensure is that if a modified concept gets off the ground, there is some easing of restrictions around crowds,” he said.
“It removes that volunteer burden element and allows clubs to work more freely around that.
“But, in saying that, we have slightly adjusted our junior competition dates and we’re working on a few bits and pieces there that, hopefully, we’ll be able to inform clubs of some adjustments in the next week or so.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
