Riverina and Farrer League clubs will work to a reduced player points limit and salary cap next season.
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AFL NSW-ACT announced a reduction in the player points and salary cap for season 2020 as it continues to work hard at equalisation and sustainability measures.
The salary cap in the Riverina, Farrer, Hume and AFL Canberra competitions will drop from $100,000 to $95,000 next year.
More importantly, the player points limit will drop a further two, from 38 to 36 in Riverina and Farrer.
The Hume League will drop to 37 points.
AFL Southern NSW community football and facilities manager Paul Habel said the move was designed to ensure the long-term viability of clubs in the region.
"No doubt, the equalisation and sustainability of clubs is at the forefront of the decision," Habel said.
"That was the reason for the introduction of both the salary cap and player points system.
"Like anything new, there is always going to be debate on whether it works or not but it is the club volunteers who have said they don't want to spend all their time raising money to pay footballers. And to a lot of club's credit, they have been very proactive in the facility development side of things.
"I sent out the information to clubs and gave them the chance to offer feedback and from the 40 clubs across the Riverina, Farrer and Hume we had three replies.
"It's all about sustainability moving forward and the competitive balance."
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A meeting of representatives from Riverina, Farrer, Hume and AFL Canberra, league equalisation panel members, AFL Riverina and AFL NSW-ACT officials was held in August to discuss both the salary cap and player points system for 2020.
All parties were behind the decision to reduce both the salary cap and player points next season, and into the future.
Under the AFL's figures for season 2019, it is estimated that the average spend for Riverina League clubs was about $69,000 and for Farrer Leagues it was about $58,000.
It was estimated that only two clubs, both from the Riverina League, was on track to spend more than $90,000 on players this year.
Three clubs in the Hume League were tracking to spend close to the $100,000 mark.
Habel revealed that the spend of the six clubs that played off in senior grand finals across Riverina, Farrer and Hume will be reviewed in coming months.
They will be Wagga Tigers, Griffith, North Wagga, East Wagga-Kooringal, Osborne and Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock.
Clubs have until October 31 to submit their final budget figures to the AFL.
The move to 36 points is not expected to trouble many clubs based on this year's figures.
While the long-term goal is to reduce the salary cap and player points again, Habel said the data will continue to be monitored before any decisions are made.
"We'll continue to look at all relevant information and always engage with clubs before any decisions are made," he said.