When 21-year-old Western Bulldog Callan Ward weighed up the pros and cons of moving to Greater Western Sydney, he would’ve wrote on top of his list on one side ‘five million dollars, set myself up financially for life,’ and on the other, ‘breaking club loyalty’. Incredibly, indications are he’ll stay a Bulldog.
Being an AFL footballer is an occupation like no other, where the ‘loyalty culture’ has such a grip over career decisions.
Perhaps Ward, who was raised in Melbourne’s inner-west, isn’t the best example, though, as other factors would have come into his decision, such as staying close to home, family and friends.
But he’s still reportedly sacrificing over $2 million in earnings to stay at the club who drafted him at pick 19 in 2007 and he isn’t the first AFL footballer to do so.
Twelve months ago Richmond’s Dustin Martin, who is hot property right now after a blistering start to the 2011 season, turned down Greater Western Sydney’s advances of a reported $3 million over three years.
There’s plenty more too, who I don’t have the space to mention, nor do we probably publicly know about.
However, the point is it is a strange occupation where the factor of loyalty can play such a part in career decisions, particularly given how professional footy has become and in the context of last night’s AFL player meeting regarding their pay share.
How many of us can say they have worked for the one company for our whole professional life? Few, I’d guess. But, of course, being a professional athlete is different to an office job.
Nevertheless, you don’t see AFL levels of loyalty in other sports such as the NBA, or the English Premier League or even Australia’s NRL. Far from it.
So what separates the AFL from the other sports. Why do AFL players put such value on loyalty?
It’s a difficult question to put your finger on.
Certainly, the notion of a one-club player is a traditional one from the VFL days, with players getting their names on lockers and the like, which engrains that culture into the sport.
In a modern context with the AFL’s drafting system, there is an element of re-paying the faith clubs put in players during their development years, which is why Melbourne’s Tom Scully has copped some criticism this year.
Of course, other codes have these traditions and systems too, but AFL footy has never reached the point where loyalty has become devalued. Players changing clubs has never evolved into the norm.
And even when big-name players have swapped clubs, such as arguably the league’s two best players in Chris Judd and Gary Ablett Jnr, they have been able to justify those decisions.
In those two specific cases both players had won premierships at their original clubs. They also moved to be closer to family, which provided the factors required to outweigh ‘club loyalty’ on their pros and cons list.
Some argue the introduction of free agency in 2012 will be the trigger which begins the devaluation of loyalty and that remains to be seen.
The same people probably argued the introduction of expansion clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney would do so, but at this stage that doesn’t appear to have been the case.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Completely agree. Personally, I've never thought much of the idea of loyalty. It's only used selectively, and is often used as a manipulation tool against players who are deemed to be 'disloyal.' I also don't get why, when most of us would consider changing work places if the offer was right, we expect footballers to be pure. "In a modern context with the AFL’s drafting system, there is an element of re-paying the faith clubs put in players during their development years, which is why Melbourne’s Tom Scully has copped some criticism this year." I don't really buy that, and I say that even as a Melbourne supporter. Melbourne took Scully on because we believed he had potential, not out of altruism. If he wasn't good, we would drop him straight away. As such, while I will be disappointed, I think he has every right to leave if he think it's in his best interests.
Nick Bencorelli
Guest
probably an element of truth to that, but makes you wonder why loyalty has been thrown away in EPL with their membership bases. is it inevitable in footy? have we just not evolved to that stageyet?
Nick Bencorelli
Guest
yeh slight difference, wasnt chasing cash, he was chasing flags. didnt quite work out for him
Richard
Roar Guru
I think the loyalty factor in the AFL is related to the fact that AFL clubs still belong to the members, rather than being the play thing of "entrepreneurs". The loyalty factor and the club culture are very big reasons why I love Australian Rules Football and I hope that never changes. True club supporters go on admiring their champions long after they hang up the boots. It's tribalism , yes, but I hope that never changes. Bobby Skilton will always be a Swans legend, Darryl Baldock a Saint. Dick Reynolds is part of the Essendon fabric, Murray Weideman is a part of every Collingwood supporters heart. And that's a great thing to have. I disagree with the reader above who claims "AFL" is a working class game, however. Unlike say Rugby League, which is indeed a working class game, Australian Rules Football has always appealed to people at all levels of society, from the blue bloods and the corporate high flyers to the average Joe from Broadmeadows. Its a great leveller, something we can all talk with each other about, and that's another reason why I love AFL.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I don't think there's any shame in it. :D
gazz
Roar Pro
Weird system the old NRL employ. but then again, it's kinda good. gets rid of all this stuffing around and speculation. Should the AFL employ it? I dont know, wouldnt it be good to get this crap out of the way b4 finals etc?
gazz
Roar Pro
I'm waiting for that day. What's the shame in that, honestly!?
gazz
Roar Pro
how bout other sports? NRL, EPL , examples listed, dont fans essentially pay their wages?
gazz
Roar Pro
Leigh Colbert too... erm wait a minute
Shane
Guest
Because an accountant doesn't rely on his fans for his income. The AFL does - disenfranchise fans, lose your pay packet - and fans LOVE loyalty.
Shane
Guest
What 'big, big, big time' opportunities does basketball offer for most Aussie kids? You're having yourself on here, Aussie Rules smashes basketball in terms of opportunity. Back to the original point, though: Geelong gives a fairly good example of the effect of player loyalty - those who think money is king, don't really understand the benefits of long term investment. Players like Jimmy Bartel and Cameron Ling will be set for life in Geelong, and their names will live on after they have passed on. Some things can only be bought with heart. That is not to say that loyalty is better than a fat wallet (or vice versa), but just because you don't understand the benefits doesn't mean players who choose loyalty are stupid.
Benchwarmer
Guest
Loyalty should be rewarded with financial incentives. ie. every year a player stays at a club, 2% more of their salary is not counted towards the salary cap. It gives clubs wishing to hold onto players more power, whilst not denying players the chance to change clubs if they still wish to.
Republican
Guest
I don't believe AFL players display any more integrity in respect of 'loyalty' than other codes. It's all to do with the filthy lucre albeit exceptions exist amongst all codes. We should not expect players to be loyal since this virtue is little more than a manufactured illusion generated by the commercial interests of elite sporting 'brands'. We the supporter are symbiotic of this culture in our ongoing prosaic support of what amounts to theatrical farce.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Why is the opposite of being loyal selling out? Selling out means that you sell out your ideals for money. Players who leave clubs aren't selling out their ideals, they are simply changing clubs.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Indeed, and in fact the word 'justified' is enormously subjective. Many people seem to think that leaving for money is not a justifiable reason., I disagree. I don't think there is anything wrong with leaving because one has been made a better financial offer, and I would love for a player to say 'absolutely, I left because of the money; as would anyone! :D"
Neotraveler
Roar Rookie
Just a side note on comparisons of players as 'workers' and loyalty... I have a few friends who are academics, they often take pay cuts to work under a well-known professor or perhaps at renown university or lab. I guess that equates to players staying put for premiership glory? On the flip side I've seen some friends leave their research the loved so much for the big bucks of commercial work. My point is it happens in real life also, I'd me more impressed with "loyalty" if GWS were top of the table flashing millions to players from the bottom clubs and they were refusing and staying put. The players are still thinking about their own best long-term interests, as they should - not sure that is 100% loyalty to a club.
Toa
Guest
Good post, certainly has legs.
Redb
Roar Guru
I think you'll find the AFL has been a professional spot for sometime. It chose to implement a draft and trading system designed to even out the player talent. A degree of free agency provides some options to remoe some of the rigidity of the existing system.
Brett McKay
Guest
completely agree Redb, a bit of movement is quite healthy, and dare I say it, even the norm in most most professinal sports...
Redb
Roar Guru
It is a restraint of trade but the Court allows exceptions where agreement is reached by all parties. This agreement is framed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which is negotiated between the AFL and the AFLPA for a period of time. Without a CBA, the AFL could be open to legal challenges. This is being renegiotated currently, hence the AFL players meeting last night. It's a sticky time for the AFL as whilst they have know fans are loyal to clubs first they still have to deal equitably with the player's demands. On the other hand the players know any CBA has to be workable or else clubs fold and the players are out of jobs. In the end it's in the interest of both parties to make the CBA work.