2014 WAFL Rules and Regulations updateWednesday, December 18, 2013 - 3:04 PM

WAFL Rules and Regulations have been updated for the 2014 AAMI WAFL premiership season following a comprehensive consultation and review process.

The updated Rules and Regulations have been developed in consultation with the nine WAFL clubs and approved by the WAFL Advisory Committee, WAFL Management Committee and WAFC Football Affairs Committee for implementation in 2014.

Key updates include:

Section 5 – Total Player Payments (TPP)

• Football match payments set at $230,000
• Introduction of a Marquee Player Allowance of $10,000
• Veterans Allowance increased from $10,000 to $20,000
• Other benefits (e.g. travel costs, medical insurance) increased from $10,000 to $20,000
• Total Player Payments set at $280,000

The introduction of the Marquee Player Allowance and increase in the Veteran’s Allowance is designed to retain and reward long-serving WAFL players and entice retired or delisted AFL players to return to the WAFL.

Marquee players are defined as those who bring value to a Club and the League both on and off the field and must be agreed to by the WAFL Manager after a written request by the Club.

AFL or State League playing experience and individual honours which highlight the value that the player will bring to the Club and Competition will be considered as part of this determination. Only one player can be nominated by each club as a marquee player.

The Veterans Allowance can be applied on request to players who have played over 100 League or (AFL games returning to club of origin) for their Club.

There will be more stringent monitoring and controls around Total Player Payments with the introduction of a Corporate Governance department at the West Australian Football Commission.

Section 8 - AFL/WAFL Club Partnership Model

• Replaces the AFL Player Service Agreement
• Partner Clubs allocated 65% of TPP in each category of Section 5 (i.e. $182,000 TPP)
• All 40 players listed with the WAFL Partner Club as at July 1^st 2013 are deemed to be “local district” players for that club irrespective of their origin, in order for the model to commence.
• There is provision for the WAFC to approve the club adding “Non district, Interstate, Non district AFL delisted and Interstate AFL delisted” players to their list but solely within the parameters of 8.12 and 8.13.

8.10       SQUAD LISTS

AFL & WAFL partner clubs will ensure that a WAFL Partner club league squad includes:

1. AFL Listed players (including primary listed, rookie listed, international listed and scholarship listed players.)
2. WAFL Listed Players (including Naturalised, see 8.11, eligible players see 8.17b ) and
3. Any non-Naturalised Player in respect of whom the WAFC has provided its prior written approval, which approval:
4. May not be unreasonably withheld if the non-Naturalised Player is an AFL partner club de-listed interstate player who has played at least 10 season with the AFL partner club ; and
5. May otherwise be provided or withheld in WAFC's absolute discretion, Provided that the total number of non-Naturalised Players at a WAFL partner club league squad must not exceed 4.

8.12       WAFL PARTNER CLUB RECRUITMENT (2014)

The following outlines the WAFC - WAFL process given a WAFL Partner Club’s request to recruit, other than a Local District Player (1 point) for season 2014. The WAFC will assess the WAFL Partnering Club and the AFL Partnering Club to ensure a comprehensive player assessment is conducted.

1. WAFL Partner club to formally apply in writing to the WAFC outlining the reasons for the need to recruit.
2. The WAFC to complete a WAFL Partner Club player list assessment.
3. The WAFC to complete an AFL Partner Club player list assessment.
4. List assessment finalized following the AFL 2013 Draft & Rookie Draft.
5. Following completion of assessment process the WAFL Advisory Committee will deliberate prior to presenting to the WAFL Management Committee. 
6. WAFL Management Committee appraisal presented to the WAFC Football Affairs Committee for final decision.
7. The basis for the list assessment for 2014 is contained in 8.13

8.13       BASIS FOR LIST ASSESSMENT 2014

Listed below is the initial basis for list assessment. It is noted that other criteria may apply which may be taken into account in the list assessment process.

1. Finishes 1 to 2 and list assessed as strong and not subject to material change due to retirements, transfers, etc.

No entitlement to Non-district, Interstate, Non-district AFL delisted and Interstate AFL delisted players.

2. Finishes 1 to 4 and list assessed strong but is subject to material impact due to retirements, transfers, etc. of key position player/s likely to materially impact performance

Ability to apply for 1 Non-district, Interstate, Non-district AFL delisted and Interstate AFL delisted player with the application to be assessed based on the degree of impact of the relevant player/s and the impact on relative competiveness.

3. Finish 5 to 7

Ability to apply for 1 or maximum 2 Non-district, Interstate, Non-district AFL delisted and Interstate AFL delisted players with the application to be assessed based on relative competitiveness.

4. Finish 8 or 9

Ability to recruit up to 2 Non-district, Interstate, Non-district AFL delisted and Interstate AFL delisted players subject to the overall maximum of 4.

Based on this recruitment and assessment process, Peel Thunder Football Club has been granted approval by the WAFL Advisory Committee, WAFL Management Committee and WAFC Football Affairs Committee to recruit two (2) Non-district players for the 2014 season.

A wider review of the overriding principles will be completed at the conclusion of the 2014 season and each subsequent year for the five-year term of the agreement. The ongoing assessment of the playing lists for each season will also form part of that wider review.

For a full copy of the 2014 WAFL Rules and Regulations CLICK HERE