“NRL CEO Todd Greenberg admitted on Monday players could face pay cuts if the season is reduced, a decision Fonua-Blake labelled “unfair”.

“If you sign a contract and a contract says you'll be paid X amount, you're owed X amount whether you play or not," Fonua-Blake said.

"It might be a bit unfair on older players that maybe took a pay cut or younger players coming through that aren't on as much money as certain players that have to pay bills and pay rent and stuff like that.

"I feel like if you sign an agreement, the agreement should be met by both parties. If you're fully fit and you're able to play, you should be getting paid.

"The outcome of what's happened is unfortunate, but as long as you're still meeting your requirements within your contract, I reckon you should still be getting what's owed to you."

https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/affiliates/kayo/manly-sea-eagles-prop-addin-fonuablake-condemned-for-donning-face-mask-during-media-session/news-story/62d6a215991967a1ca27438ab5b5d15c

“The AFL players have been savaged, with their request for the league to return to a 22-game season described as “all about money” - an accusation denied by dual premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt.

AFL Players Association CEO Paul Marsh made the request on behalf of the group on Tuesday evening, after the players were surveyed on Monday about their views on the coronavirus crisis.

“I think the AFL players have pulled the wrong cord today. I think they’re going to get little or no sympathy from the greater public, some of whom are losing their jobs, losing their livelihoods, some are going to lose their houses,” Robinson said.

“This decision by the players’ association today, make no mistake, is all about money. They don’t want to take a 20 per cent pay cut.

“Now that’s their right, to say they don’t want to do that. They will take a pay cut. But what has happened now is we’ve got this massive thing in our lives, and the key stakeholders, the players, are now fighting with the AFL - less than 48 hours out from Round 1 of the season.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-players-savaged-for-being-all-about-money-in-22game-request-as-tigers-star-jack-riewoldt-plays-defence/news-story/529e99b039096c1926f589f81c27ee8f

“As the NBL called time on its season with just two games remaining in the finals series between Sydney and Perth, Kings CEO Paul Smith has told the rest of Australia’s codes to “wake-up” as they try to push on amid the threat of coronavirus.

The Sydney Kings made the brave decision to end their season after a number of their players no longer felt safe and comfortable continuing their season as the spread of coronavirus begins to grip the nation.

It was a hand in heart moment that stunned many stakeholders, particularly as there were only two games left to be played.

As of Tuesday evening, the NRL and AFL are still scrambling to play on, despite the biggest leagues and events around the world deciding to suspend or cancel play.

After falling suit with the rest of the world, Smith, in a raw press conference issued Australia’s codes a blunt wake-up call as to their duty of care, not just to the player but to the nation.

“Why are athletes different from any employee?” Smith asked.

“Why are they being held to a higher standard here? I don’t understand it. It’s gotta stop… sport has to wake up. It’s time.

“It’s not just basketball. Everyone has to stop and realise what we’re doing here. We’re talking about people. Why should our athletes — any athlete in any sport — be held to a higher standard than any other employee, any other professional, in any sport, or any business.”

https://moosegazette.net/kings-ceo-issues-aussie-codes-blunt-wake-up/50515/

So the a league is handling this the best am I dreaming?? Haha 

Imagine an amalgamation of the 3 codes playing football 2023.

Broncos, Roar
Jets, C Bulldogs, Panthers, Wanderers, Tigers, Sydney FC, Dragons
Victory, City, Magpies, Blues, Hawks, Bombers, R Tigers, Cats, 
Adel U, Crows, Power
Glory, Eagles and Dockers

wow

..... and the Mariners would still finish last.

I just find the antics of the AFL and especially NRL in recent days so morally wrong, so disgusting. Putting their grubby hands out whilst hundreds and thousands of people are about to lose their livelihoods, their homes, their savings, their future.....Government resources should go to the most vulnerable out there not to greedy out of touch sports executives. 

“Without insurance or assets to produce income outside of the games themselves, ARLC chairman Peter V'landys said the NRL would not take long to collapse if the season was suspended without financial assistance from the government.

However Scott Morrison issued a gloomy response when asked about V’landys’ plea on Monday.

“Obviously the NRL is not high on the list at the moment,” Morrison said.
.....

The dire state of the NRL's financial stability has prompted rugby league great Phil Gould to call for a change in power at the top - a timely comment given chief executive Todd Greenberg's future as boss is unclear beyond this year.

“NRL in a very difficult position, so last thing we need is people adding to their problems. We all need to stick,” Gould Tweeted on Sunday.

“However, this situation highlights just how wasteful & poorly run NRL has been. Overpopulated Head Office has squandered 100's of millions of dollars. Time for change.”

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/nrl-scott-morrison-shoots-down-government-bail-out-coronavirus-001159027.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLnNlLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKrOwhWHOVno8iFYPm6KsSjirLPmylHiOQzGKX_is5OLbzGqAQAY5mDFpYisnosbL-S-mZGpjkStIapXX7vd1UDktxZbu5lh77pdJE1X3A0hnd7u0NOsGK6RUylTShmQwUAO1KhC1nwGBV2ZFSFUirqpRIr14UIPYrlyTuVtDAlo

Richmond have over 20 mill in the bank, they will be ok.  The bottom 6 clubs are in trouble.  I can see this killing a few clubs, but not the league, not unless it over extends itself trying to keep them all afloat.  They may have to dip into the resources of the biggest clubs, which will make some interesting meetings.

I think the NRL is in trouble, and they know it, hence the horrible press conference.

“AFL clubs are likely to be forced to shave at least $5 million — and as much as $10 million — from their balance sheets due to the shortened 2020 season and reduced overall revenue.
.....

One high ranking official from a club told foxfooty.com.au the cuts “will be absolutely brutal”, while another forecast as much as $10 million in reductions across the administration and football departments, especially when overall losses due to no crowds and reduced memberships are taken into account.

 Another club suggested the AFL would be wise to consider proportionate cuts, meaning wealthy clubs would foot a more significant bill than smaller clubs.

For powerhouse organisations such as West Coast and Collingwood, compulsory soft cap reduction is unlikely to cause too many problems. But for smaller clubs such as St Kilda or North Melbourne, the measures will sting.

One club estimated “$5 million as an absolute minimum” would be cut from their budgets, while another said it would be “around $5 million, according to our data”.

There has been no official word from the AFL, though clubs have been running the numbers behind closed doors, aware that swift action will be required at some stage in the near future.

One club suggested recruiters could be under the most pressure to keep their jobs with less under-age and state league football to watch. Regrettably, the official said, clubs will not be able to sustain employees if they are not adding to the business. Recruiters, if they aren’t recruiting, would potentially be vulnerable – at least for the 2020 season.

In the administration wing of clubs, it’s believed community, events and marketing could come under strain too.

.......”


https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-coronavirus-news-updates-absolutely-brutal-financial-losses-flagged-for-fans/news-story/cdf122d207ada15b2a7e59c44226463c

What’s bottom 6?

Lions Suns Giants Bulldogs Saints Kangaroos ? 

Suns would go. They have to maintain Lions.

I would welcome the 3 Melbourne clubs into the AL. WB to replace WU. 

Im sure AFL would rather the brand crash and burn then hand it over to the soccer.

Footscray Dogs
Moorrabin Angels 
&
FC North 

thanks Gallop 



(it must be his fault right?) 

Agree with this. And football in Australia runs on the smell of an oily rag, with less government support and less tv money. We are bizarrely well placed to survive this!

Totally agree

Well said.

The clubs (especially the richer ones) of any code should be taking the opportunity to give back, not sook about lost revenue. Seeing as the games most likely won't be played, why not use that time to send the players to work at local food banks and other such services. Not only will they be providing a genuinely useful service but they will be gaining huge amounts of positive publicity. People like Eddie McGuire should be leading by volunteering at the Collingwood Food Bank. Actions like that provide a huge boost to community morale and inspire others to do what they can for the less fortunate.

nrl and afl might look at getting international viewers now most other sports have been cancelled 

Its the arrogance both these codes have had for decades, more so afl.
As for international possible viewers ? well at least nrl have a very small footprint, would it grow ? doubt it.
afl may have a chance back in Ireland where its origins derive from but elsewhere ? huh, stoopid china may being they have invested there lately from memory but really ? where else will give a fuck about this over hyped australian bubble game.

There are plenty of sports-mad people around the world that will watch pretty much any sport. The problem is the leagues would need to spend money in marketing and advertising to try to reach international markets. The financial return simply would not be worth it.

extra time

it is unbelievable that during a time where people are getting sick and dying, the NRL actually came out and said "we need a govt bailout".

fark me

for once we agree.

In such times of desparation yes some will watch anything whilst top football leagues are on hold now around the world but once they are back on deck they wouldn't give a toss for afl for starters.......
Some euro will relate and get into NRL for Union despite its small euro footprint (compared to other leading sports) has been around for ages and I'm sure they know of their WC but afl ? not much hope imo.
All the euro's I know from travelling and the USA only know of it when coming here, otherwise wouldn't give a toss about it.
Competing against traditional sports other than football, Basketball huge, Handball, Volleyball, Water polo for starters.
afl would have to spend a shed load to even be noticed.

so a league should have a chance to shine overseas? 

AFL gets a bit of action in Asian betting markets. It's more about the score than any love for the game.

As a former AFL fan I sincerely think they deserve this potential financial hardship- the last 20 years they have just been too TV revenue greedy-  and neglected members and players/clubs financially. Hope the HAL outshines AFL during this virus mess 👍

Eurovision cancelled, was to be in mid-May.

I expect I won’t be able to travel overseas in summer. Even within Europe. 14 days quarantine at best when it’s back.

will be old school. Cabin on the lake in the wood. What could go wrong....

“Teams who struggle to cope financially with the shortened AFL season could be helped by the state government in order to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite AFL boss Gillon McLachlan's announcement that the season would get underway as scheduled, a number of clubs are already feeling the heat.According to Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, while the state government will not hand out money to the the AFL, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is in discussions with league power-brokers to find a way to assist clubs that are at risk financially, with a secure loan that could be worth "hundreds of millions of dollars"."I spoke with the premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews who is well aware of the economic impact on Victoria if clubs were to fold or to have to sack so many people," McGuire told 

"The football industry feeds a lot of people in this town and right around the country. He is talking with Gil McLachlan at the moment as well as (AFL GM of Finance) Ray Gunston and Richard Goyder, the chairman of the AFL commission, about how they can help football survive.

"There won't be a handout because the state of Victoria has to look after itself. The state government will not be giving out a handout, but there are other machinations that can come into play where there might be a line of credit to help save the AFL and get through.

"This is going to take 10 years to get through. Certainly the next three years will be an impost because there will be a massive line of credit, i.e. a secured loan, to get us over the line."

According to respected AFL columnist Caroline Wilson, with teams set to play with no fans for the foreseeable future, there are fears that several clubs could go under.

"St Kilda, Melbourne, Gold Coast, GWS, Brisbane, North Melbourne. These clubs could do quite worse than just struggle now," she said.

"There is a genuine fear that these clubs could go under."

With the AFL already giving up five rounds of the season, the estimated financial loss for the league already sits in the vicinity of $70 million, and McGuire added that clubs are looking at losses of as much as $15 million each.

"The TV money will flow, but the money that keeps the clubs alive are the people walking in the door and there's none," he said.

"Six months of a lockout is what we've got today, that's the season. This is crucial that we are able to find the money to keep the game going the way we have.

"The finances of the football clubs and the AFL are absolutely extremely parlous at the moment. Never have we faced anything like this. This has been a nuclear bomb going off for the AFL.

"They are the best credentialled, they are the best run and they have the best finance and the best deals, but if you don't play football, then you don't make the money."

While not all clubs will fight to stay alive, McGuire said that the AFL was hell-bent on ensuring the financial health of all 18 clubs during this trying period.

"This is crucial that we are able to find the money to keep the game going the way we have. At the moment we are doing it collectively. We don't want anyone to fall," he said.

"We don't want anyone to fail. Every club is a major part of the AFL. No one club is greater than the other as far as it's importance to the tapestry of the game.

"Pull the string of the tapestry and sometimes the whole thing goes."With the league now set to proceed with the season, the focus shifts to how the matches will be fit into what is sure to be an interrupted season.According to Nine's AFL reporter Sam McClure, the league will not accelerate any of the fixtures in the first two rounds of the season, with Rounds 3-6 to be compacted.However, McClure revealed that the government may not fund games that are scheduled to be played away from "regular areas"."The only time the AFL will look to accelerate games, that is to cram more games into less days, would be from Rounds 3 and 4," McClure told Footy Classified."There is concern having spoken to multiple club CEOs and at AFL level that government money may not be forthcoming for games that have been sold away from regular areas, games in Ballarat, Tasmania and the ACT."They are sold there specifically so local governments can bring in crowds. With that now not happening, the questions are being raised whether there will be the money."

AFL boss announces start of season

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/state-government-line-of-credit-to-assist-struggling-teams-in-shortened-season/b2f0cf0b-2ffa-4df6-9434-dd3102df80c4

”it’s not a hand out. It’s a 0% interest loan we don’t have to pay back”

ABC with an analysis here:

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-18/coronavirus-shutdown-may-change-sport-as-we-know-it-afl-nrl/12062522