PAID players across Riverina and Farrer League competitions may have to go without match payments this year even if a season gets off the ground.
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AFL Riverina chairman Michael Irons issued a blunt warning to contracted players this week as the organisation begins to plan for the potential return of football and netball.
Irons said paid players need to come to the realisation that the survival of clubs and communities must be prioritised over match payments, if and when a season gets underway in 2020.
"You need to accept the fact that you may not get paid this year," was Irons' message to paid players.
"Clubs won't have the same revenue streams they have had and there is a much bigger importance placed on participation and mental health than whether certain players get paid."
Irons said player payments was something that the AFL was looking at but he insisted that regardless of the outcome, players need to understand the current climate due to COVID-19.
"The AFL is looking at it, from a national approach, and applying a prorated percentage to the salary cap but regardless of whether we've got a prorated salary cap for this year, clubs aren't going to have those same income streams and there are other costs which have got to be met for the operation of those clubs," he said.
The start of both competitions have been put on hold to May 31, at least, and a working party has been formed to assist in planning for the 2020 season.
AFL Riverina plan to review all budgets to assess the impact the postponed season will have before it decides what club affiliation fees will be this year. It is also awaiting advice from the AFL but has suggested clubs stop accepting player registration fees.
AFL Riverina will also update senior clubs on the 2020 salary cap and player points system once information is received from the AFL. All due dates for information to be submitted by clubs will be altered.
AFL Riverina has cancelled all meetings and are working on a new schedule. It has also, in consultation with the Daniher family, cancelled the Sock It To MND fundraising round for 2020.
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