tap in 79 wrote:
Alternatively another question is - should Carlton pay money towards an equalisation fund that assists St Kilda, North Melbourne, Port and Melbourne?
1. Needs it own thread.
2. Yes. They should. But your question should be
'how much should Carlton pay...' Because essentially, all clubs - for some time now have agreed to handouts from the future fund and now an equalisation fund. Sure some eyebrows were raised - but the overall consensus has been that the AFL is one of the world’s least-equalised sporting competitions.
My only concern is that North Melbourne had the opportunity to accept pokie revenue, yet chose not to. They may have got a big tick with regard to their corporate social responsibility, but essentially they shouldn't be rewarded for refusing a revenue stream. My feeling is their money owed from the 2015-16 future fund agreement be scaled back.
But North's - and the other clubs - have KPI's to adhere to and can't just go and spend the extra money on anything they like. Most of it their extra funding has to be spent on increasing non-football capabilities, such as growing membership and sponsorship, than football capabilities.
I hear some supporters concerned that the money they hand over to Carlton will go to fund another clubs survival - which is pretty silly. You're handing money over to gain access into matches.
tap...it's worth noting point 4 from the competitive balance measures.
1. Move toward a ‘pure’ salary cap – phase out Cost of Living Allowance and Veterans Allowance by 2017 to move toward a more equitable salary cap for all Clubs; replace the current Cost of Living Allowance for the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants with a rental subsidy for each player on below average player payments. The rental subsidy to be paid direct to players by the AFL;
2. Increase payments to players – affordable increases in payments to players;
3. Greater control on football cost growth – curb industry football cost inflation through the introduction of a soft cap on non-player football expenditure. Clubs can continue to spend what they like on their football departments, but any spend over the soft cap will be subject to a luxury tax;
4. Enhanced revenue sharing – augment the existing Gate Levy by adjusting existing AFL Club distributions based on a measure of relative Club income for years 2015 and 2016; the reduction in AFL Club distributions to some clubs will be capped at $500,000 in 2015 and 2016 –
but note Clubs retain all revenue they generate themselves;5. Continue Supplemental / Discretionary funds – compensate smaller clubs for structural inequities – allocate uncommitted Club Future Fund monies to smaller Clubs;
6. Stronger accountability and performance management – help smaller Clubs which benefit from increased distributions from the AFL to improve performance, grow revenues and to be accountable for delivering on key targets.
The only thing Carlton need concern itself with is itself.