The point system was rolled out across Victoria this year with the the cap expected to be enforced in the Wimmera next year.

Kaniva-Leeor United Football Club president Jason Gordon said the salary cap was a good idea in theory but the logistics and practicalities were nearly impossible.  

The Cougars are currently in talks about moving to the Wimmera or Horsham District league and have operated under the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League’s salary cap. 

“I want people to go into this with their eyes open,” Gordon said. 

“You can’t stop a supporter from giving a player money. That is the basis of the whole thing. 

“Football clubs nearly always pay in cash.

“It is extremely hard to trace cash.

“If the AFL can’t control their salary cap, how are clubs in the minor leagues and the country leagues going to do it?” 

Wimmera Football League chief commissioner Trevor Albrecht said he was in full support of the salary cap.

“I believe we are just in the midst of finalising the figures,” he said. 

“I am supportive of the equalisation throughout the leagues. 

“I think it is a good thing. It stops clubs with a lot of financial backing from outstripping clubs with little financial backing. 

“A level playing field is great for football.

“I think it will have the desired effect.” 

AFL Victoria’s Bruce Petering said they are still waiting on the final details of the salary cap policy but are expecting its return any day now. 

Petering said he could not confirm the caps amount until the policy was returned from AFL officials. 

Petering said feedback has been positive. 

“The salary cap was born out of surveys that clubs provided to AFL Victoria,” he said. 

“I believe it will be effective in conjunction with the points system. 

“Put together over time it should be a good mechanism to assist clubs in reigning in their ultimate spending.” 

While Albrecht had nothing but praise for the salary cap, he said he had no answers for how the salary cap would be policed. 

“I think that is the question on everyone’s lips,” he said. 

“Our clubs will be working on getting it right. Nobody wants to get caught.

“Good management and operators will set us at the forefront. 

“Nobody wants to muck it up or go over and get themselves in trouble.” 

Petering said the salary cap would be policed by an integrity department. 

“They will be brought in when they need to, to investigate a possible break or spot order,” he said. 

“We have the mechanisms there to make it work.” 

Petering said there are a number of ways an investigation could come about. 

“There will be four or so main drivers that will instigate and look into a club,” he said. 

“The information can be given with discrepancies to investigate. 

“A club could also be picked out at random. 

“Another one is the whistle-blower. We expect clubs and players will bring issues to the attention of the investigation.” 

Gordon said the salary cap would detract from the game. 

“It is a brilliant idea thought up in an office in Melbourne but I believe the point system is the only way to truly equalise clubs,” he said. 

“Football clubs govern themselves.” 

Albrecht said he expects the salary cap will have a relatively smooth transition. 

“In two years time no one will know any different, it is just a stream line,” he said. 

“All the clubs have known it is coming right across the board since it has come right through the country and metro. 

“It saves players from hopping from our league to another because they have it and we don’t. 

“It is even for everyone.” 

Gordon said there has been more talk about the salary cap then there has the football in the KNTFL. 

“In my opinion there are more things we could be spending time and resources on than policing a salary cap,” he said. 

“We should be focusing on the promotion of the game. 

“We have been told that there are clubs in the KNTFL under investigation but the season is over now.” 

Horsham Saints Football Club director Anthony Woodhead said the implementation of next year’s salary cap would benefit his club and the wider community. 

Woodhead said he believed AFL Victoria did not logistically have the manpower to police the salary cap but still thought it could work effectively. 

“It was something that was discussed a bit in meetings, but with some guidance I think it will be okay,” he said. 

“It is a big thing for a small unit to police but the reliance is on clubs to be mindful of what their neighbours are doing. 

“Clubs might suggest things and then those policing it can look in depth.” 

Woodhead said he did not expect the workload to be dramatically affected. 

“It will initially add a bit more work but they have given us templates to work with, which is a good thing,” he said. 

“It might add a bit of work in the off season but it is what it is.” 

Woodhead said the clubs had time to give suggestions and make some changes with the salary cap now ready to be ticked off. 

“My understanding is that it has gone to the AFL to be signed off,” he said. 

Dimboola Roos president Colin Campbell said the salary cap would not impact the club. 

“I think our spending is well and truly under the amount of what the cap will be,” he said. 

“I think it does need to happen across the board though. It is getting out of hand. I do think it will be difficult to police.” 

Gordon said it adds pressure for club volunteers. 

“It is a lot of work to get it all to work out,” he said. 

“It is just another job that another volunteer has to do.”