The thorny issue of equalisation continues to generate heated debate, with AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou hopeful of an agreement by mid-year.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has slammed an AFL proposal of a tax on the revenue of richer clubs such as the Magpies.
McGuire is similarly pessimistic about an agreement being reached in the next few days.
There were apparently hopes of some announcement around next week’s season launch in Adelaide, but that now appears unlikely.
There was vigorous debate at last week’s meeting of the AFL working party looking at the complex equalisation issue.
McGuire is a member of that committee and said of last week’s meeting: “I was the heat”.
But Demetriou said clubs such as Collingwood were entitled to put forward their case.
The working party is due to meet again on Thursday ahead of next Tuesday’s meeting of the 18 clubs.
Asked if there could be some agreement by the season launch on Wednesday of next week, Demetriou told AAP: “I honestly don’t know”.
“Instinctively, it tells me we probably won’t.
“But we’ve never set a deadline for the season’s launch – we’ve always said we’d like to have something in place probably by the middle of the year to implement for 2015.
“What’s most important is to get it right – it’s really complex.”
Demetriou denied that last week’s meeting had been overly-heated.
“I’ve been in meetings that were much more robust – not on this issue, on other issues,” Demetriou said.
“Some salient points were made last week, some more forcefully than others – that’s okay.
“This notion that people get together and have a singalong discussion, hold hands and everything is beautiful – I’ve never been in a meeting like that.
“It’s absolutely logical to have robust discussions.”
McGuire remains adamant that richer clubs such as the ‘Pies should not be taxed to help balance the league.
“The money is there, so let’s get a few other people putting in,” McGuire told Triple M.
“Clubs already put enough in as it is.
“I’m not against equalisation, I just reckon the AFL should be funding it.”
Aransan
Guest
Sydney won premierships in 2005 and 2012 and were runners up in 1996 and 2006, Brisbane won premierships in 2001-3 and were runners up in 2004. The new clubs have been successful on the field since relocation and merger. The finance side is not so important for the northern clubs, it was always going to be a long battle to become established in the rugby states. Television is vital for any professional sport. Television is now national and successful teams are required across the nation in the modern era from a revenue point of view. Unsuccessful teams in the southern states are a dead weight on the competition.
me, I like football
Guest
I agree with Eddie that the AFL should fund equalisation, Curently each club gets about $10 from the AFL which equates to about 25% of a clubs revenue. IMO this figure should be around the 50% which would mean taking some of the revenue streams from clubs and putting it into the governing body. Perhaps clubs should only recieve income from club-membership merchandise sold through the club and club sponsors, all other revenue could go straight to the AFL to help fund equalisation with equal grants
TomC
Roar Guru
On the flip side, though, the relocated and merged entities haven't exactly become financial powerhouses. After thirty-two and twenty-seven years respectively the league still has to subsidise the Sydney and Brisbane teams. I've said this elsewhere, but I think here's a tendency to understate the growth opportunities for the weaker Melbourne teams in some of that city's growth areas. Hawthorn have done an excellent job at strengthening their support in the south eastern corridor and other teams should try and copy that model.
Aransan
Guest
Weak Victorian clubs with low memberships should not be looking forward to salvation from equalisation. It is interesting to look at when the 12 VFL clubs last won a premiership. 1933 South Melbourne - relocated to Sydney in 1982. 1944 Fitzroy - merged with the Brisbane Bears in 1996 to become the Brisbane Lions. 1954 Footscray 1964 Melbourne 1966 St. Kilda 1980 Richmond 1995 Carlton 1999 North Melbourne 2000 Essendon 2010 Collingwood 2011 Geelong 2013 Hawthorn The AFL bean counters will likely consider that the Victorian clubs with low memberships and always out with their begging bowls could easily be dispensed with or be relocated to Western Sydney or the Gold Coast. I am afraid decisions are more likely to be based on logic and finance than sentiment.