AFL/AFLPA pay deal reached

[one-eyed]

The Tiger players were sitting in the front two rows (see pic below) ...

AFL players reject wages offer

    Michael Warner, Aaron Langmaid
    From: Herald Sun
    June 30, 2011



FOOTY'S wages war intensified last night as the league's 782 players pledged not to back down on their demands.

In an historic show of defiance against AFL bosses, players voted to stay the course in their bid to be paid a fixed 25-27 percent cut of the game's rising revenues.

AFL Players' Association chief Matt Finnis said last night: "The players sent a very strong message today - they want to be treated fairly and with respect."

Players from all 17 teams rejected the AFL's latest cash offer and empowered their union to take the fight to Fair Work Australia, the national workplace relations tribunal, if negotiations continue to falter.

Fair Work Australia can help settle disputes where parties are strongly opposed, and can also approve a ballot of all AFL players on industrial action.

Asked about a player strike, Finnis said: "Strike action was not on the agenda ... it is the last thing on players' minds."

Brisbane Lions star and AFLPA president Luke Power said the players remained united for a fair deal.

"It is momentous. AFL players have never come together like this before. We engaged players, we got their feedback and opinions and then we passed resolutions," Power said.

Collingwood's Luke Ball said: "We are not waging war, we want a fair negotiation."

Carlton forward Chris Judd said the united front would ensure a good outcome.

"It was a show of unity from players," Judd said after the meeting.

"It's good to see players are suitable engaged in negotiations.

"It was a chance to see the players do get the information they need."

Judd said he did not think there was any public perception that players were asking too much.

"There are lots of people with lots of opinions but the players just want a fair and equitable deal," he said.

"I think that's what the AFL wants as well.

"Hopefully the players association can continue with its negotiations and get it sorted out in due course."

Players are fighting for a major overhaul of the way they are paid. Instead of an amount rising each season, they want a three-year deal with 25, 26 and then 27 per cent of all football revenues - about $220 million a season according to AFLPA figures.

The union says about a third of the $50 million-a-season pay rise would be directed to increased player salaries, the rest for a pension scheme and other welfare benefits.

But the AFL is refusing to consider the percentage proposal, preferring incremental annual increases in player payments.

The AFL has told clubs the pay demand will cost the game an extra $100 million each year - not $50 million.

In the hours before last night's meeting, the first of its kind since 1993, Demetriou warned the league would never agree to the percentage model.

"My view hasn't changed,'' Demetriou said.

"We've got to manage the expectations of our stakeholders, which include clubs and it also includes our supporters. They're the most important stakeholder.

"Getting that balance right and speaking to each group to get them to understand that here is a pot of money that is available, here is what your fair share is and what we're prepared to do.

"We don't link that to percentages, we link that to what's fair.''

Asked what a fair deal was, Demetriou replied: "A fair increase at the end of the day is what the game can afford."

He said the soaring salaries of AFL executives- including his own $2.2 million pay cheque - were "not relevant'' to the player pay debate.

"AFL staff salaries have gone up on average about 3 to 4 per cent over the past 10 years. Our top players in the competition have gone up between 300-400 per cent,'' he said.

"They're earning over $1 million now. So I don't think it is an apples for apples. I actually think it's not relevant, to be quite honest.''

Pressed on the prospect of a player strike, Demetriou said: "The players have indicated on numerous occasions that is not something they're considering, so I take them at their word for that.''

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/follow-the-afl-players-pay-day/story-e6frf9jf-1226084222635
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/afl-stars-make-play-for-pay-after-a-fashion/story-e6frg6nf-1226084489628

[WilliamPowell]

AFL Players' Association chief Matt Finnis said last night: "The players sent a very strong message today - they want to be treated fairly and with respect."

And they need to treat the game and other stakeholders fairly and with respect. Eg the Clubs, grassroots footy etc

Judd said he did not think there was any public perception that players were asking too much.

Always thought Judd lived in "knoddy" land this sort of proves. When it comes to matters of players salaries it is a bit hard to take seriously a bloke who takes up probably 20-25% of his Club's salary cap + has that deal with Visy

I support some of their claims; they have merit but they need to understand that there other parties that are just as important as they are to the game and the biggest one os the clubs. IMHO any deal cannot be to the detriment of the clubs.

I have to say that Matt Finnis rubs me up the wrong way and appears to be about wanting to make a name for himself on this whole thing.

He was on SEN a few weeks back and when he commented that it was the AFL that wonted more teams and it was the AFL's job to pay for these new teams and it wasn't the problem of the AFLPA. Newsflash for you Matt - 2 new teams means employement for about 100 people you are supposed to represent you peanut 

[gerkin greg]

I'm with the players. They need more money for new clothes. Some of those kids have to get around in second hand jeans full of rips and holes.

[The Big Richo]

Is the thinking man's orange Tim Fleming being inappropriate in that photo?

[gerkin greg]

I think the thinking man's orange Tim Fleming is winding up for a ball tweet

[WilliamPowell]

Not a good look to have their meeting at the Palladium at Crown I wouldn't have thought - not exactly the cheapest place in Melb to hire out in the evening 

has tohave been a Matt Finnis decision 

[Jackstar is back again]

is that Daniel Connors in the front row ??   is he looking for an increase in salary 

[Jackstar is back again]

my take on things is the players are "'kidding themselves""
What happens in 5 years time when the TV rights are up for grabs? and the bid is less than the current bid, say 20% reduction,
do the players except a 20 % pay cut ?
In the real world, the players are over paid .
They dont manage people and play a sport they choose and love.
I am a General Manager of a rather large company and I would think that Jordon McMahon last year got nearly double my base salary.
he didnt have the stress of managing 30 people, yeah he played all year at Coburg
Also they all make money on the side from apprearances as well.

[WilliamPowell]

I think they deserve an increase, I think their pension plan is great idea, like the idea of increasing rookies salaries but locking themselves into a fixed % based on revenues could come back to bite them on the bum.

How much should there increase be? Certainly not 30-40%+ which based on their ambit claim of fixed % of revenues is what they are looking for.

I'll repeat what I said before ant deal cannot be to the detriment of the clubs and other stakeholders

They need to remember "Players need Clubs, Clubs need players - it is about balance

[Jackstar is back again]

all for some sort of pension plan and too look after Rookies
But there as so many aspects of the game that can be improved, if $$ were correctly spent and not a cash grab
Clubs doctors is an area which needs improving and general governing

[Jackstar is back again]

RFC players need reduction in wages after yesterday

[mightytiges]

I think our guys missed the message that the AFLPA wasn't going on strike this weekend  .

ps. On Saturday you could hear "and you guys want a pay rise to dish up this crap" yelled out by some Tiger supporter at least every 5 minutes. Not happy Jan lol.

[Penelope]

I think our guys missed the message that the AFLPA wasn't going on strike this weekend  .

[Jackstar is back again]

And they have the cheek to sit in the front row at the meeting

[WilliamPowell]

And it drags on after the players knocked back the AFL's latest offer

It not often I side with the AFL but their last offer to players was more than generous.. IMHO players are being very greedy.... I really don't thinkt hey are looking at the whole picture, they seem to only be focusing on themselves 

Always thought Matt Finnis was an Andy Wannabe   
====================

No deal between AFL and players Michael Warner From: Herald Sun September 15, 2011 1:42PM

THE AFL says it is shocked the players "utterly rejected" its pay offer of $1.144 billion over five years.

Pay talks between the AFL and players ended this morning without agreement.

The league had given players until today to respond to its $1.144 billion five-year offer, lodged two weeks ago.

The players dropped their demand for a fixed percentage of the game's revenue, contingent on the deal being for three years instead of five.

But AFL chief Andrew Demetriou said the players' compromise amounted to a demand for more money, which the league could not afford.

"When I say there is no more money, there is no more money," he said today.

"When you come back from a five-year deal with a three-year deal, with the first years being front-loaded, by implication you want more money.

"The demands players put to us today and changes to the offer represent a significant rise in the amount of money they are seeking.

"I think there will be a fair bit of surprise across the football industry that the players don't think the deal is a fair one.

"For our offer to be utterly rejected, I'm just surprised."

Demetriou said the AFL could pull its offer from the table after today.

"I can't guarantee that the offer that has been provided, that has been rejected, will be there next time."

He said a major sticking point was the players' refusal to sign over use of their images in AFL promotion.

"It is unfortunate they have seen fit to refuse the ability to use players' images to promote the game," Demetriou said.

"I think most people would be surprised by the news today and indeed we were ... I think any me on employee offered $1.44 billion ... would be surprised it has been knocked back."

Demetriou said the AFL had an obligation to support players but also clubs, players, state leagues and grassroots facilities.

"Under the scenario put to us by AFLPA today that balance is skewed, unfairly so, for the rest of the football industry."

He "encouraged" players to talk to staff at their clubs, volunteers and junior coaches to get a "greater understanding" of the AFL's priorities.

"I think players need to consider the impact of their actions on their clubs, supporters and community football networks that helped them get there."

He said the AFL would stick to its timeline of meeting clubs on September 26 to update them on their annual financial distribution, and could not predict the next move in the pay dispute.

"While we are thoroughly disappointed we will continue to talk to the AFLPA. We think we have done everything we can to provide the best possible deal. There is no more money for the players."

The AFLPA has scheduled its own media conference for 3.30pm.

MORE TO COME

- with Al Paton

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/no-deal-between-afl-players/story-e6frf9jf-1226137877809