CLUBS are growing anxious about the uncertainty surrounding next year's total player payments (TPP) figure, with fears negotiations between the AFL and the Players' Association could continue past finals.
Experienced West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett told AFL.com.au that although everyone in the industry understood how difficult and important the negotiations were, he hoped a resolution could be reached by the end of the season.
"It is going to be dreadfully important for everyone that we get a result by the end of September, Nisbett said.
"If that is not the case, well, we are all just going to have to hang on."
The uncertainty is making it difficult for clubs to determine budgets or finalise contracts and Nisbett said it was a dangerous business to guess what was going to occur.
"If you blow it out then you have to claw back contracts," Nisbett said.
Several clubs have more players out of contract at this time of the season than in previous years.
The uncertainty surrounding the negotiations is believed to have been a contributing factor in them not being able to finalise deals.
Nisbett has no problem with the negotiation process and said it was even difficult for parties involved in the negotiations to predict where the figure might land.
Although it's understood that the AFL indicated at a recent CEOs meeting that the players would be offered an 8-10 per cent increase on the current TPP, which was 10,368,980 in 2016, no one is certain on the eventual outcome.
Players can also share $1,022,000 per club under the Additional Services Agreement (ASA) for things such as appearances at corporate sponsor functions.
A 10 per cent increase on last year's TPP would lift the 2017 figure to $11,405,878, however the AFLPA remains steadfast in its desire for players to receive a percentage of revenue.
It is expecting an indication from the AFL this week on whether that principle has been accepted.
Several star players including St Kilda's Leigh Montagna, Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich and Melbourne's Chris Dawes are understood to have met with the AFL last month to outline its push for a share of revenue.
Several clubs believe a point in the negotiations may eventually be reached where a working TPP increase is nominated for practical purposes while negotiations continue concurrently.
Where previous negotiations with the players have happened in isolation from other investment areas, the AFL wants to determine its investment plans for clubs, players, infrastructure, the women's league, community clubs, fan growth and the competition in one hit.
Sources don't expect the soft football cap to increase as controlling costs remains important, however the competitive balance levies that have seen clubs tipping money into an equalisation pool are likely to be revised.
