Concussion and Cap Management

[Philhawk]

‘Every dollar he’s owed’: How ‘landmark ruling’ on retired star could blow out Dees’ salary cap

‘Every dollar he’s owed’: How ‘landmark ruling’ on retired star could blow out Dees’ salary cap

www.foxsports.com.au

Brayshaw obviously deserves every cent of his contract in full.

But where should the amount lie, inside or outside the cap?

Some of the commentary last 24 hours have provided interesting perspectives from both sides.

If Buddy suffered a horrific knee injury 7 years into his 10 year deal that prevented him from playing again - should the last 3 years of his contract be included in the cap? Or do we look at concussions now differently?

 

[Syd]

‘Every dollar he’s owed’: How ‘landmark ruling’ on retired star could blow out Dees’ salary cap

‘Every dollar he’s owed’: How ‘landmark ruling’ on retired star could blow out Dees’ salary cap

www.foxsports.com.au

Brayshaw obviously deserves every cent of his contract in full.

But where should the amount lie, inside or outside the cap?

Some of the commentary last 24 hours have provided interesting perspectives from both sides.

If Buddy suffered a horrific knee injury 7 years into his 10 year deal that prevented him from playing again - should the last 3 years of his contract be included in the cap? Or do we look at concussions now differently?

The AFL hierarchy were clear on that point, every dollar would count towards the cap in every year, even if he retired before the contract expired.

Every dollar, in every year.

 

[Bald]

I think if you’re medically retired/disqualified then it should be outside of the cap.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I'm in two minds here.
Medically forced retirement is different to a mid-contract decision to retire. Putting payments outside the cap makes some sense.

Until the first player gains the system by retiring mid-contract, claiming it is medically enforced but on spurious grounds. Then the floodgate of dubious claims potentially opens, rules get continually tweaked (nothing the AFL loves more than changing rules without the ability to test them) just leading to more inconsistency at each stage, lawsuits, and so on.

 

[kaiserchief13]

It should come inside the cap of the players team who last concussed the player

e.g. - If Simpkin can't play again, then his salary should count inside the St Kilda's (Webster last player to concuss him) cap

The intention is to make teams ensure their players aren't concussing opposition players

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Anyone surprised to hear the Swans were already allowed to pay out McCartin’s contract outside of the cap?

 

[Muddiemoose]

I would prefer to see the contracts counted as if they were still playing

It comes with the double edged sword that are monster contract offers

 

[Struggle]

Concussion should be treated differently when medically forced to retire by league doctors and allowed outside the cap, or least a percentage of it

The AFL wouldn't let him continue to play because it's increased liability for them.
If a guy has horrific leg break or knee injury, once healed he can still play football just maybe not at the required level for AFL. So that falls into a different category in my book and should be in the cap

 

[HugeJohnson]

2 years inside the cap, the rest outside.

 

[LordLucifer]

When a player has to retire from the game on medical grounds, then the following should apply :

(i) the player gets paid the full remaining amount of that current contract (could be 1-year, could be 3, doesn't matter)

(ii) the player continues to get get paid in line with the normal pay periods that the club has in place (weekly, monthly, quarterly etc for the full duration)

(iii) all payments made to the player in each contract/financial year go to the overall salary cap for that year like normal

(iv) clubs cannot pay out the contract in full and claim it all in the one-year unless there is one year remaining on the contract

 

[Muddiemoose]

When a player has to retire from the game on medical grounds, then the following should apply :

(i) the player gets paid the full remaining amount of that current contract (could be 1-year, could be 3, doesn't matter)

(ii) the player continues to get get paid in line with the normal pay periods that the club has in place (weekly, monthly, quarterly etc for the full duration)

(iii) all payments made to the player in each contract/financial year go to the overall salary cap for that year like normal

(iv) clubs cannot pay out the contract in full and claim it all in the one-year unless there is one year remaining on the contract

Same page
I could understand if the league wanted to have a clause that it only applies for contracts signed post a certain date say June this year or whatever

But like I said earlier the risk should be calculated when clubs are making monster long term contracts and clubs need to take that risk on board when they get the benefit of taking players off the market for long periods of time and removing the players ability to use the market to either increase contact payments or change clubs

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

Concussion should be treated differently when medically forced to retire by league doctors and allowed outside the cap, or least a percentage of it

The AFL wouldn't let him continue to play because it's increased liability for them.
If a guy has horrific leg break or knee injury, once healed he can still play football just maybe not at the required level for AFL. So that falls into a different category in my book and should be in the cap

Maybe this will force clubs to treat concussions a bit more seriously instead of rushing players back after their 12 days are up. Aren’t you supposed to have like 3 months of rest to reduce future risk? 12 days is pretty piss weak by the AFL.

When a player does a hammy you generally pencil in 4-6 weeks, an ACL 10-12 months. Extended rests after brain injuries should become the norm, reducing reoccurrences and therefore reducing forced retirement.

 

[BomberManU]

Bit off-topic, but couldn't find a 'general' concussion thread - was staggered to read this today:
'Picken retired in 2019 after 198 games and a decade with the Bulldogs, having been diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. In his statement of claim lodged last year, he said he suffered multiple concussions throughout his career, and claims the club and doctors breached their duty of care to him. His lawyers claimed he returned several irregular cognitive test results during his career but was not alerted to the fact.'

 

[Hamingja]

I would prefer to see the contracts counted as if they were still playing

It comes with the double edged sword that are monster contract offers

Brayshaw being a concussion risk was well known when they negotiated the ridiculously long deal to begin with.

 

[And_ROOS]

It should come inside the cap of the players team who last concussed the player

e.g. - If Simpkin can't play again, then his salary should count inside the St Kilda's (Webster last player to concuss him) cap

The intention is to make teams ensure their players aren't concussing opposition players

But by the AFL not suspending Bruz they have deemed his hit ok, so does the AFL then wear the hit of the rest of the contract or do Melbourne. In Melbournes case it should be outside the cap, as Brayshaw hasn't retired based on not wanting to play. If his concussion wasn't a factor, he would be lining up Rd 1.

 

[kaiserchief13]

But by the AFL not suspending Bruz they have deemed his hit ok, so does the AFL then wear the hit of the rest of the contract or do Melbourne. In Melbournes case it should be outside the cap, as Brayshaw hasn't retired based on not wanting to play. If his concussion wasn't a factor, he would be lining up Rd 1.

Doesn't matter if it was an illegal hit or not. If the concussion ended the career then that's how it goes

 

[shintemaster]

Anyone surprised to hear the Swans were already allowed to pay out McCartin’s contract outside of the cap?

Surprised that the Swans would get generous treatment from the AFL... no.

This does highlight the issue though - these rules need to be fair and transparent. In my opinion McCartin should never have been allowed to come back to football for his own health and the end result was entirely predictable. If clubs are going to be able to take on the risk - with no financial risk - it is only fair that all clubs know this up front.

To the topic at hand though, no, unfortunately the entire point of a cap is that players wages should sit inside them fairly for all clubs. It should take extreme - not football related - impacts to change this. Death / major trauma off field such as an accident, severe illness or act of god.

 

[MagpieJo]

And if Libba ends up sueing the AFL, can the dogs get in trouble for their non action last night? there is no way that was his ankle!

 

[Eat_Pant]

Nathan Murphy

28

Nathan Murphy

Age

25

Ht

192cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

6.5

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

3star

MG

176.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

11.5

3star

K

6.5

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

4star

MG

176.5

3star

has been forced into retirement by the AFL.

 

[HairyO]

I think if you’re medically retired/disqualified then it should be outside of the cap.

This is what they will do with every player, even if it was performance based.