Struggling AFL Clubs Could Receive More Than $920K As Part Of League's Equalization

Financially struggling clubs in the Australian Football League could receive more than A$1M ($920,000) a year "under equalisation measures to be announced next week," according to Ralph & Baker of the HERALD SUN. The AFL "has ticked off on radical equalisation measures," which include a football department “soft cap,” revenue taxes and the scaling back of Sydney’s cost-of-living allowance. AFL’s battling clubs "will still receive lucrative payments." They have "been given rough figures," and believe the payments could be from A$800,000 to A$1.2M a year. The money "will flow to those clubs given their lack of TV exposure, poor fixtures in many cases and crippling stadium deals." It is expected eight or nine clubs "will contribute some money to the equalisation pool, with some middle-tier clubs not affected" (HERALD SUN, 5/28).