Australian Football League Club North Melbourne Will Pay Close To Full Salary Cap

Australian Football League club North Melbourne will pay close to 100% of the salary cap for the first time next year -- but "fears it could be a flash in the pan unless AFL equalisation measures can level the playing field," according to Grant Baker of HERALD SUN. The Kangaroos are poised to announce a A$1M ($950,000) profit but "can only pay close to salary cap capacity in 2014 because of significant fundraising." North raised about A$1M "as part of its Box On debt reduction campaign this year" and a further A$800,000 earmarked "for football-related spending at a special Shinboner Night." It "will need to raise a similar amount next year to meet its salary cap commitments." North Melbourne has reduced its debt from A$8M in '07 to less than A$3M and "has acted on its better financial situation by beefing up its football department" -- adding Geoff Walsh as football manager and Leigh Tudor, Gavin Brown, Cameron Ling and John Donehue as assistant and specialist coaches (HERALD SUN, 11/7).