THE Western Region Football League has adopted the Player Points System for 2016.
The league’s board met on Monday night to discuss the finalised policy and voted to implement the system next season with the view to enforce a salary cap in 2017, which will further bridge the gap between higher and lower spending clubs.
The policy, formed from an AFL Victoria sub-committee over the past 12 months, is designed to address the mounting equalisation concerns and rising player payments in football leagues across the state.
The league decided the maximum number of Total Team Points will be 50 points for any senior grade in the 2016.
A reduction of one point will apply for any players that have met the Season of Service clause in 2015 and who participate with the same Community Club in 2016.
Western Region Football League chief executive Bob Tregear said the Player Points System was in-line with the league’s strategic plan.
“The policy is aimed at sustaining community football, improving competition balance and getting more people through the gates at our games each weekend,” he said.
Mr Tregear said clubs developing their junior players would be rewarded under the new system.
He said it would also reduce the number of clubs recruiting a large number of premium players at once.
As part of the transition process to the player points system the league asked clubs to begin the process of allocating player points to its senior playing list in the second half of the 2015 season.
“Clubs have already had experience calculating points for their senior team, so clubs already have an understanding of how the policy will work,” Western Region Football League football operations general manager David Newton said.
“We will work closely with clubs to ensure the implementation of the points system is a success.”
The maximum number of points for one player is six, which will be given to a person who played a minimum of one AFL game in the past three seasons.
Former VFL, WAFL and SANFL players who have played five senior games in the current or previous three season will get five points.
A TAC Cup player or NEAFL or TASFL player who has played a minimum of five senior games in the past three seasons will get four points.
A top five club best and fairest winner, a top 10 league best and fairest winner or a club leading goal kicker who has booted a minimum of 40 goals in a season will also get four points.
A senior community plater or a transferred junior will get three points.
A development community player will get two points and a home player which has played 40 or more games at the aligned junior club up to and including the under-17 competition will be one point.
Mr Newton said he is available to assist any club if they need any further information in relation to the policy or to cross reference any preliminary point allocations based on current or potential players at WRFL clubs.
Education and training regarding the proposed salary cap for clubs in 2017 will also begin next year.
Player Points System Categories
Last Modified on 21/10/2015 15:08