The AFL is facing a coaching crisis, according to former Hawthorn champion Ben Dixon, who has called for an extra $1 million to be added to the soft cap. The soft cap spending on football departments has dropped from $9.4 million in 2015 to $7.9 million currently, while player wages have increased from an average of $300,000 to $500,000. This disparity has led to assistant coaches working 90-hour weeks, which is not feasible for their families and is not sustainable in an era of rising inflation. Dixon argues that the current pool of coaches is shallow and not deep enough, and that the game is at risk of losing high-quality senior coaches in waiting. He suggests that the soft cap should be increased to $10 million to allow coaches to be paid a more competitive salary, which would help to retain and develop top talent. This is a critical issue that needs to be addressed to ensure the long-term health and success of the AFL.
In addition to the coaching crisis, the AFL is also set to overhaul the opening round fixture for the 2027 season. The current fixture has been criticized for its competitive imbalance, with clubs that play in the opening round getting an advantage against less battle-worn opponents the following week. The 2027 concept will feature all 18 clubs, though it will still be weighted towards the northern state markets. This change will help to level the playing field and ensure that all clubs have a fair chance of success. However, the start of the 2027 season is already set to be disrupted by the MCG hosting the 150th Anniversary Cricket Test between Australia and England from March 11 to 15.
The AFL is open to a different look for the opening round in 2027, and is considering the possibility of merging the soft cap and salary cap to give more power to clubs to allocate funds where they see necessary. This would allow clubs to focus on development coaches and younger players, which could help to build a stronger and more sustainable league. Overall, the AFL is facing a number of challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the long-term health and success of the league, and it is up to the clubs and the league itself to find solutions that work for everyone involved.
