The Australian Football League has "intensified its financial commitment to hardship suffered by footballers," pledging to inject A$26M ($20M) over the next six years into a series of programs dealing with post-career injuries and mental health issues along with drug, alcohol and gambling education, according to Wilson & Quayle of THE AGE. With the pay dispute between the AFL and its players still unresolved, "negotiations will intensify over the coming weeks" as AFL Players' Association CEO Paul Marsh and his team "respond to the six-year wage and conditions offer put forward by the competition." In a "pre-emotive strike" on Tuesday, clubs were told that the total player payments would increase by 10% next year "which has placed significant pressure on clubs struggling to stay under the salary cap" considering that the figure in reality remains closer to a 6% increase given the removal of the veterans' allowance. Due to the "lack of agreement" between the league and the AFLPA, the clubs "have been granted a two-week extension" to submit their Total Player Payment estimates with the new deadline set for Nov. 9. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and his team have "committed to spending" A$13M ($10M) over the next six years on a series of welfare and education initiatives surrounding social issues ranging from problem gambling to drug abuse and a further A$13M into the players retirement fund to deal with financial, emotional and physical hardship (THE AGE, 10/26).