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Community Club Sustainability Program Black Diamond AFL Player Points Criteria February 2018 The background to the Community Club Sustainability Program

AFL NSW/ACT believes that ensuring competitions are competitively balanced is critical to safeguarding the ongoing viability and sustainability of competitions and clubs. Even and fair competitions lead to increased interest and provide a better experience for stakeholders, which leads to stronger competitions and clubs. The future sustainability of community football will be built upon highly competitive leagues, where costs are controlled and are within the fundraising means of volunteer administrators. Competitive competitions enhance the experience for players, umpires, administrators and spectators. Competitive balance measures already exist in some leagues in NSW/ACT, however with AFL Victoria and the SANFL investing significant time and energy into the development of a state- wide system, AFL NSW/ACT are also implementing a similar regime to achieve improved competitive balance outcomes and also consistency across the states. The significant movement of players between community clubs, has been identified as a key issue affecting community football over the past 5-10 years.

2 Safeguarding the interests of Community Football

The general philosophy behind the Community Club Sustainability Program is based on the following four objectives in the best interests of Community Football: 1) Assisting the equalisation of competitions 2) Promoting player loyalty and junior development 3) Improving the sustainability of Community Clubs 4) Supporting the role volunteers undertake in managing their clubs by: a) Capping the need to fundraise money for player payments b) Providing a more competitive environment on field, that encourages more volunteers to support at club level

3 Player Points System Explained

The Player Points System was identified as a potential method to reduce the continuing movement between clubs. Ease of transfers, the willingness of players to move between clubs and some clubs recruiting philosophies were adding to the imbalance of talent from one club to the next.

The Player Points System is designed to:

✓ Better manage player movement ✓ Spread player talent across clubs ✓ Reward player loyalty ✓ Encourage the development of junior players at an existing club

The Player Points System is also designed to differentiate between certain levels of community football. It is acknowledged that community football is made up of players of varying standards and an effort has been made to objectively categorise these community footballers based upon their playing history and achievements.

The overall aim of the Player Points System is to assist clubs in managing their recruitment strategies and to provide clubs with a tool that encourages player retention and also minimises the freedom of movement currently enjoyed by players, which is often at the expense of even competitions and sustainable clubs.

The Player Points System has been designed to provide a consistent approach across competitions and at the same time recognise and accommodate the varying standards between leagues. Accordingly, it is seen as a system which will assist in the equalisation of competitions.

4 Player Points System Explained

PLAYER POINTS SYSTEM – CATEGORIES AND DEFINITIONS Category 6 6 points AFL Player Minimum 1 AFL game in any of the previous 3 seasons. State League (VFL, WAFL, SANFL, NEAFL, TASFL) Minimum 5 senior games in any of the current or previous 3 seasons. Category 5 5 points TAC Cup Minimum 5 games in any of the current or previous 3 seasons. Minimum 5 senior games in any of the current or previous 3 seasons in a Tier 1 Category 4 4 points Premium Community Player Community League. Played the same or more senior than reserves (or non-highest division) games in any of the current or previous 3 seasons (excluding Tier 1 Community Leagues). This Senior Community Player includes any players from AFL Sydney Platinum division. Category 3 3 points Played more reserves than seniors games in a Tier 1 Community League. Recruited from an U19’s or younger competition and does not meet the Home Player Transferred Junior definition. Played more reserves (or non-highest division) than senior (or highest division) games Development Community Player in the previous season (excluding Tier 1 Community Leagues). Category 2 2 points Any player who is currently posted to the RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Defence Force Personnel Australian Air Force military air base in Port Stephens or the Lone Pine Barracks Army Base in Singleton. Played 40 or more games at the aligned junior club up to and including U18 competition. Category 1 1 point Home Player Has only played at that club. Has not played any football for 3 or more full seasons. DEFINITIONS Tier 1 Community Leagues AFL Sydney Premier Division, AFL 1st Grade, Farrer FL Seniors, Riverina FL Seniors, Hume FL Seniors, Black Diamond Cup, QAFL, QFA Division 1, NTFL, any senior community competition affiliated to AFL Tasmania, AFL Victoria, the SANFL or the WAFC and any State League player not meeting category 5 definition. Junior Aligned Club Where seniors and juniors exist under the same constitution, and/ or as determined by AFL NSW/ACT. Senior clubs can have multiple junior aligned clubs and junior clubs could have multiple senior aligned clubs. This is to ensure that appropriate and practical player pathways exist. The list of junior aligned clubs are outlined in this document.

5 Player Points System Explained

POINTS ADDITIONS & DEDUCTIONS – POINTS ALLOCATIONS If player transfers from another community club and will be competing against their former club (does not include Category 2 Development Community Player). Additional 1 point If player transfers to three or more community clubs in past 36 months. Does not include players moving on permit (e.g.: VFL, TAC Cup, NTFL or Local Interchange). ADDITIONAL PLAYER POINTS If player played junior football with a AFL Hunter Coast Juniors club in the previous 3 seasons and is playing for a Black Diamond club not in that junior clubs pathway. Additional 2 points* If the player has played junior football with a AFL Hunter Coast Juniors club for less than 3 seasons, and played more matches for a junior club that is not in the Black Diamond club’s youth pathway. For each season of service to the club, after 2 seasons served, (minimum 5 senior or reserves games per season), even if not in consecutive years, until the Deduct 1 point player reaches 1 point. #Note: if the player is eligible for underage football at that club, it must be 5 senior games to meet the criteria for a year of service. Where a player transfers from a club in the Black Diamond Cup competition to PLAYER POINTS DEDUCTIONS Deduct 2 points* a club which was in the Black Diamond Plate in the previous season.

Revert to 2 points* Senior playing coach who does not meet Category 1 criteria. Where player is returning to their home club. Revert to 1 point Where player has not played in the previous 36 months. * Local variations for Black Diamond Cup

6 Player Points System Explained

ADDITIONS & DEDUCTIONS – LEAGUE EQUALISATION PANEL ASSESSMENT

1) League Equalisation Panels may reassess an individual player’s points classification where the Panel deems in its ultimate discretion that the prescribed points allocation is inappropriate based on the player’s playing history.

2) Where a player qualifies in more than one category based on their playing history in the previous 3 seasons, the category with the highest points will apply (see flow chart). Note: Home players are excluded.

3) Any player that does not meet any of the prescribed point categories will need to apply to the League Equalisation Panel who will determine the appropriate points allocation in its ultimate discretion.

4) The League Equalisation Panel may take into account the following in determining whether or not the imposition of additional points are appropriate in the circumstances:

• The nature and location of the player's employment; • The principle place of residence of player's family members; • The principle place of residence of the player's partner or spouse; • The player's previous history and/ or relationship with the Club; and • Any other factors deemed appropriate by the assessment panel in its absolute discretion.

7 Player Points Calculation Flowchart

Stage One Stage Two

START HERE Categories Definition ONCE STAGE ONE HAS BEEN COMPLETED, SHOULD A Played at least one game of AFL in any of the previous 3 Home Player AFL Player 6 Points PLAYER MEET EITHER OF THE seasons CONDITIONS BELOW, ONE Definition ADDITIONAL POINT WILL BE Played at least 5 senior games of VFL, WAFL, SANFL, ADDED TO THE PLAYERS Player who has played State League Player NEAFL or TASFL in any of the current or previous 3 POINTS ALLOCATION FOR more than 40 games with a OR seasons 5 Points EACH CONDITION MET AS club in official Played at least 5 TAC Cup games in any of the current or TAC Cup Player DETERMINED BY THE PANEL competitions from U17’s previous 3 seasons and lower (see aligned junior club definition) 1. If a player transfers to a OR community club and will be Minimum 5 senior games in any of the current or previous competing in the same Player has played only at 3 seasons in a Tier 1 Community League competition and against their that club Premium Community Player 4 Points former community club, (does In senior competitions only, top 10 finish in competition not include Category 2 – *Under this definition B&F or Competition leading goal kicker (min 40 goals) in Development Community players can have multiple the previous season Players). home clubs 2. Three or more different Played the same or more senior than reserves (or non- community clubs in past 36 highest division) games in any of the current or previous months. 1 Point Senior Community Player 3 seasons (excluding Tier 1 Community Leagues) Played more reserves than seniors games in a Tier 1 3 Points Community League Note: OR A player that does not meet Player recruited from an U19’s or younger competition Transferred Junior Player any of the categories will and does not meet home club definition need to apply to the League Players who haven’t played Equalisation Panel who will anywhere for 3 or more full determine the appropriate seasons will be recruited as Development Community Played more reserves (or non-highest division) than points allocation. 2 Points a 1 point player Player senior (or highest division) games in the previous season 8 Points allocation for existing players of a community club

In order to determine the points allocation for a club’s current senior players (already existing players who will be going into at least their 2nd year of service for the club) for the upcoming season, club’s will need to assess all those players against the previous flow chart. This will allow clubs to determine what a player’s points allocation would have been in the year they arrived. You will only need to do this for players who haven’t provided clubs with 7 years of service already, as they are guaranteed to now be a 1 point player based on the deduction system. Once clubs have gone back to work out what a player’s points allocation would have been when they first arrived at your club, deduct one point off for every year of service the player provided to the club (after their first two years of service) until those players are down to the minimum allocation of one point. Note: The player must have played at least 5 senior or reserves games for the club in that season for a point to be deducted the following season, or if the player was eligible to play junior football, they must have played a minimum of 5 senior games. While the allocation of points to existing players may be time consuming to begin with, once this process has been completed in preparation for the 2018 season, clubs will only have to allocate player points to any new players each year. Note: Most clubs have approximately 35-40 players who come into contention to play senior football. Given many of these players will meet the home club criteria immediately, it is estimated that clubs should only need to review 10-20 players in the first season and 3-8 players each season thereafter.

9 Examples of points allocation for existing players of a community club

Example: Example: Example:

Terrigal Avoca AFC recruited a player in Cardiff AFC recruited a player from Killarney Vale AFC recruit a player in 2015 from Canberra Demons in the Newcastle City AFC (both in BDAFL) in 2017 who played 9 games with the NEAFL, where he played 16 games the 2016. He played more seniors than Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup in previous season and was therefore reserves in the previous season (2015). 2016. He also played 10 senior games worth 5 points. (Note: he has not played at a higher level for Lavington in the seniors that same in the previous 3 seasons). season. Solution: Having played at least 5 games in each of the following seasons Solution: Given he was recruited as a Solution: Given a TAC Cup player is for Terrigal Avoca AFC, he was eligible premium community player he is worth 4 worth 5 points and a Tier 1 senior for the following deductions – points. However, given he is transferring community player is worth 4 points, he from another club in the same must be allocated the highest possible 2015 – 5 points competition, an additional penalty point points which is 5. 2016 – 5 points will be applied. 2017 – 4 points (1 point deduction from 2016) 2017 – 5 points 2018 – 3 point (1 point deduction from 2017) 2016 – 5 points 2018 – 5 points 2017 – 5 points 2018 – 4 points (1 point deduction from 2017)

10 Examples of points allocation for existing players of a community club

Example: Example: Example:

A player who plays for St Ives U17’s in A player who finished 3rd in the League A player moves to Cardiff in in 2017 AFL Sydney Juniors in 2015 transfers to at Cardiff in the BDAFL from Centrals in the Broken Hill League. Killarney Vale AFC (U17’s) in 2016 and is Seniors in 2015, transfers to Warners Bay He had played more lower division then selected to play senior football for AFC in the same competition in 2016. games than highest division games the Killarney Vale in 2017. This player was also at Newcastle City in previous season (2016) at Centrals. 2014. Solution: Having not played over 40 Solution: The player will be considered games in Killarney Vale’s junior teams Solution: When the player arrives at a development community player (2 (U17’s and lower), the player is not Warners Bay he will be allocated 4 points points). eligible to be classed as a ‘home player’. because they are a premium community He also didn’t play any senior Killarney player, 1 additional point because he is 2017 – 2 points Vale AFC games as an underage player, transferring to another club in the same 2018 – 2 points so can’t have been classed as providing a competition, and a further point because year of service. The player falls into the it is their 3rd club in 36 months. Total category of ‘transferred junior’. points allocation is therefore 6 points.

2017 – 3 points 2016 – 6 points 2018 – 3 points 2017 – 6 points 2018 – 5 points (1 point deduction from 2017)

11 Total Team Points Allocations

When allocating total team points caps, the Black Diamond AFL may apply any of the following variations to the relevant base total team points cap due to unique local considerations (in consultation with AFL NSW/ ACT):

Small Population Base Additional points to team allocation where the club is located in a region with low population base.

Additional points to team allocation if team did not qualify for finals in previous season or has been promoted from previous season. Ladder Position TOTAL TEAM POINTS Reduction in points to team allocation for multiple premierships in defined number of seasons. ALLOWANCES / Additional points to team allocation if finished in bottom three of the competition and is not relegated. REDUCTIONS # Additional points to team allocation where a club has no U17/18 or younger underage sides aligned (MOU in place) to it, and not capable of developing a junior program due to reasons outside of its Junior Pathway control, or if a club is formally aligned with a university and the team is based around players coming and going over a 3-4 year period.

12 Black Diamond Cup Total Team Points – 2018 Cap

The “Points Cap” applicable to each club in 2018 is: Club Points Cap 2018 Terrigal Avoca Panthers 34 Newcastle City Blues 34 Cardiff Hawks 38 Killarney Vale Bombers 40 Nelson Bay Marlins 40 Warners Bay Bulldogs 40 Maitland Saints * 45 Singleton Roosters * 45 Wyong-Lakes Magpies * 45 Gosford Tigers* 45 Lake Macquarie Dockers* 45

Notes: • Terrigal Avoca & Newcastle City points allocations reduced in 2018 due to sustained period of success and larger population base. • Cardiff Hawks points allocation slightly reduced as 2017 Grand Finalists and larger population base. • Clubs participating in Black Diamond Plate in 2017 (*) given additional points allocation in 2018.

• Point system will be applied across 22 players even if the club doesn’t13 name 22 players (i.e unnamed players are allocated 1 point) Compliance – Footyweb Administration & By-Laws

Footyweb

Each club must submit the proposed points allocation for each A new column will be created to display a players allocated points figure Player to the League by the date as prescribed by the League for verification and assessment by the League Equalisation Panel. Each Player's final points allocation will be uploaded into Footyweb by personnel appointed by the League.

Footyweb will automatically calculate the total points for the team as part of the team selection and team sheet process. The team sheets will need to be printed by each competing club and provided as part of the normal match day paper work.

Footyweb will not allow a team to be selected if the total points allocation exceeds the cap applicable for that team. All team sheets may be subject to audits. In addition, the points that are allocated to each player will be displayed in the fixtures/results section of the league’s websites to further enhance the transparency of the program.

By-Laws

The League By-Laws will expressly state that clubs must comply with the Player Points System (and annexed to the By-Laws). A club who does not comply with the Player Points System may be subject to disciplinary sanctions.

14 Home Player Quota for 2018

Each Club’s team sheet for Black Diamond Cup matches must include at least 12 ‘Home Players’.

A ‘Home Player’ is a player who:

• Played 40 or more games at the aligned junior club up to and including U18 competition.

• Has only played at that club.

• Where player has not played in the previous 36 months.

15 Senior / Junior Club Alignment

Senior Club Aligned Junior Club/s Cardiff Hawks Cardiff Hawks Gosford Tigers Gosford Tigers, Niagara Park Ourimbah Dockers, Peninsula Swans Killarney Vale Bombers Killarney Vale Bombers, The Entrance Bateau Bay Blues (for transfers prior to the 2014 season) Lake Macquarie Dockers Lake Macquarie Dockers, Wallsend-West Newcastle Swans (prior to 2018) Maitland Saints Maitland Saints Muswellbrook Cats Muswellbrook Cats Nelson Bay Marlins Nelson Bay Marlins, Port Stephens Power Newcastle City Blues Newcastle City Blues Singleton Roosters Singleton Roosters Terrigal-Avoca Panthers Terrigal-Avoca Panthers, Saratoga Hawks The Entrance Bateau Bay Blues The Entrance Bateau Bay Blues Wallsend-West Newcastle Swans Wallsend-West Newcastle Swans, Newcastle City Blues (until 2020) Warners Bay Bulldogs Warners Bay Bulldogs Wyong Lakes Magpies Wyong Lakes Magpies, Northern Lakes Power

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