THE WIDENING gap in football department spending between the competition's wealthy and cashed-strapped clubs was front and centre in Wednesday's papers.
The Australian revealed "confidential AFL figures" showed Collingwood had led the League in football department spending last year, investing $19.5 million in this area.
This figure reportedly outstripped the amount paid by the competition's lowest-spender, North Melbourne, by $5.5 million.
Australian columnist Patrick Smith had his concerns that work needed to be done to bridge this gap.
But AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou told Smith he was confident the financial playing field was sufficiently level that this alone would not stop clubs from challenging for a premiership.
In support, Demetriou pointed out 2010's football spending figures had also shown West Coast was the second-highest spending club but finished last, while the Western Bulldogs were the third-lowest spender but finished fourth.
Demetriou also said North Melbourne had told the AFL at a recent meeting that its football department spending was not putting it at an on-field disadvantage.
However, Smith said it was believed North coach Brad Scott told the AFL at that meeting he was concerned if North did not start spending all of its salary cap it risked losing players to Greater Western Sydney or free agency when it takes effect at the end of next season.
Smith said North spent 92 per cent of its salary cap in 2010 and would spend 96 per cent this season.
Demetriou told The Australian the gap between clubs' salary cap spending would be eliminated with all clubs soon to be in a position to pay 100 per cent of their cap and Additional Services Agreement allowances.
All of which should - at least partially - alleviate the concerns expressed by Magpie midfielder and AFL Players' Association vice-president Luke Ball in The Age.
Ball was anxious that the financial gap between clubs be bridged so players were not drafted to under-resourced clubs more focused on paying interest bills than on gaining off-field competitive edges over their opponents.
A salutary lesson
The AFL has long had the safety and welfare of the game's players at the forefront of its mind. This is why it made the head a no-go zone with its strict new policing of intentional and avoidable bumps.
However, just as coaches are wont to try to exploit any rule changes to their teams' advantage, so too are some players.
And so we've seen an increasing trend of players deliberately ducking their heads to win free kicks from opponents who can't avoid making contact with them.
However, any offenders should read the comments of former Footscray player Neil Sachse in Wednesday's Herald Sun.
Sachse, 60, became a quadriplegic in his second League game 36 years ago in a accidental collision, in which he fell head-first onto the knee of Fitzroy opponent Kevin O'Keeffe.
Sachse's advice to any player thinking of putting their head on the line just to win a free kick?
"Don't duck your head. It's a dangerous practice and the consequences can be a spinal cord injury," he said.
Similarly, AFL umpires manager Jeff Gieschen, a former teammate of Sachse, told the Herald Sun umpires were aware of players trying to exploit the AFL's ban on head-high contact and would be "really mindful of that" in games.
Still, the AFL can only do so much to protect the players. Ultimately, it is up to them to ensure they don't take unnecessary risks just to win a free kick.
Bulldogs may not stray away from home
Like a number of other clubs, the Western Bulldogs have played interstate 'home' games in recent years in the name of their financial bottom line.
Over the past eight seasons, the Bulldogs have transferred some home games to Canberra and Darwin, making tidy profits on games against mostly non-Victorian opponents.
But The Australian reports the Bulldogs may play their last interstate home match next year - their contract in Canberra ends this year, and their contract in Darwin next season.
The paper said the club was keen to bolster its presence at its Victorian home, Etihad Stadium, with a view to winning an improved financial deal with the stadium.
Bulldogs CEO Simon Garlick told the paper the club was keeping all of its home-game options open - the club is continuing to explore the possibility of playing in New Zealand - but said it was holding "promising" discussions with Etihad Stadium management about increasing its number of games there.
The paper reported the Bulldogs' move had been prompted by the fact their recent average crowds at Etihad were comparable to those of Essendon, Carlton and St Kilda.
The paper said the former two clubs' deals with Etihad were "considerably more generous".
The Bulldogs' move makes perfect sense. If they can negotiate a deal that makes it worth their while to return full-time to their home ground, why wouldn't they consider it?
As Garlick said, the club has to examine all of its options.
In short
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says Dustin Martin is the best second-year player he has seen in his 17-year AFL playing and coaching career, the Herald Sun reports.
While the Adelaide Oval will use drop-in cricket pitches when it becomes South Australia's AFL venue in 2014, the SCG will resist AFL pressure to follow its lead, the Daily Telegraph reports.
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan told the Herald Sun footy fans would be unlikely to know whether Channel 10 would continue to televise games next season until late this year, with negotiations between the network and broadcast rights holder Channel Seven complicated and ongoing.
Sydney Swans defender Nick Malceski returned to training on Tuesday just 60 days after having his right knee reconstructed with LARS surgery for the second time in three years, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
