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AFL Central Victoria will meet with all its leagues before making a decision on whether it will adopt the AFL's community football salary cap recommendations for this year.
The AFL has released two stages of salary cap recommendations for 2020 in response to the halt of seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the measures aiming to "help ensure the survival and ongoing sustainability of community football clubs in 2020 and beyond."
The AFL's two stage recommendations are:
Stage one: a 50% reduction on current salary caps for the 2020 season;
Stage two: a further pro rata reduction based on the number of matches re-fixtured.
For example, if a league's salary cap was $100,000 it would initially be cut to $50,000 as per stage one.
And then if only half-a-season was to be played, that $50,000 figure would again be cut in half to $25,000 as a pro rata reduction.
Across the AFL Central Victoria region, which takes in the Bendigo, Heathcote District, Loddon Valley and North Central leagues, the best case scenarios for any seasons this year appear to be based on teams playing each other once, followed by some form of finals.
"The AFL has put its salary cap recommendations out and we now need to work with our leagues and that's why our position at the moment is we're in discussions," AFLCV region manager Carol Cathcart said.
"The commission will work through the process in terms of what's appropriate for each league and whether they fully adopt the recommendations as suggested by the AFL."
Cathcart expects salary cap decisions to likely be made by the end of next week.
"The boards need an opportunity to discuss it and then provide information back to the commission before any decisions are finalised," Cathcart said.
If the recommendations are to be adopted by AFLCV, as they have already been by AFL Barwon and AFL North East Border, here's how salary caps in the region's leagues would be impacted based on a season where each team plays each other once:
BENDIGO
Current cap: $150,000
Stage one: $75,000
Stage two: $37,500
Weekly average: $4166
Based on: 9 games
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT
Current cap: $130,000
Stage one: $65,000
Stage two: $32,500
Weekly average: $4062
Based on: 8 games
LODDON VALLEY
Current cap: $120,000
Stage one: $60,000
Stage two: $30,000
Weekly average: $3750
Based on: 8 games
NORTH CENTRAL
Current cap: $130,000
Stage one: $65,000
Stage two: $32,500
Weekly average: $4642
Based on: 7 games
The AFL has indicated that the financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis on community clubs is likely to lead to reduced salary caps next year.
"At this stage, due to the anticipated financial impact on community clubs for years to come, we are proposing that there will be a reduction in the APP (Allowable Player Payment) that will be carried through into the 2021 season. This position will be reviewed and confirmed later in 2020 as the impact from COVID-19 becomes apparent," the AFL's Andrew Dillon said.
"We understand that this is an uncertain time for everyone in our game, but we appreciate the football community working together to ensure our community clubs are sustainable into the future."
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