GREATER Western Sydney has a blunt message for the Sydney Swans as the 2012 premiers fight to retain their contentious Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) – you've brought this on yourself.
The COLA is firmly on the agenda at the AFL Commission, with the Swans maintaining a firm stance the extra 9.8 per cent dispensation they receive in the salary cap is required, due to the extra expense of living in the harbour city.
That view is being questioned by the rest of the AFL's clubs, who have watched on as the Swans added first Kurt Tippett and then Lance Franklin to their list on hefty contracts, just 12 months after winning a premiership.
The Giants receive the same allowance and believe that is appropriate given they are a start-up club in a battle to establish themselves and retain their young list.
In a revealing interview with AFL.com.au, GWS chief executive Dave Matthews says the Swans have brought scrutiny on their allowance upon themselves and feels it's up to them to prove it is still required.
"We think there's a valid cost of living difference, but clearly it's under review and we think that's appropriate," Matthews said.
"It should be reviewed regularly.
"I think really the issue at the moment stems from how it's been applied and how it's potentially been used by the Swans.
"Whether that's perception or reality, we understand the scrutiny.
"We need to worry about what we can control and there's an argument that we're a start-up club that's only just got into its new facility, that's got a young list, most of whom have been drafted up here for two years, and we've got a major retention issue.
"Certainly the COLA has eased that issue a fraction but we can't afford to lose the purchasing power of COLA.
"We'd be more than happy to see some sort of assistance in another form. We think that assistance is appropriate.
"It’s really up to the Swans to defend cost of living.
"I think they're the ones that have put it in the frame and led to it being under further scrutiny.
"We'll leave them with that argument and we'll argue on our own merits."
The Swans have faced regular questions over the years about COLA and their chief executive Andrew Ireland didn't want to go on record on Wednesday, ahead of next week's CEOs meeting.
The Swans’ consistent view has been that there is an extra cost associated with living in Sydney, and maintain the COLA has not directly led to their ability to recruit players.
Cost of living allowance needed, says ex-Swan
They point to the large turnover of their list, including the departures of Shane Mumford, Jesse White, Andrejs Everitt, Jed Lamb and Tony Armstrong at the end of last year, freeing up the cap space to attract Franklin to the club.
It was a view repeated again last week by head coach John Longmire.
"Clearly the club has a view that there's a cost of living associated with being in Sydney," Longmire said.
"That's been acknowledged by most people that live in Sydney.
"That will take its course. We've just got to make sure there's some balance to the discussion and the debate.
"A lot of players have left our club over the last couple of years and there just needs to be some healthy discussion, but also some balance in that debate."
Up to this point, the Swans and Giants have been viewed as a conglomerate in terms of the COLA.
But Matthews feels every club should be viewed individually, stating there are differences between the Giants and fellow expansion club Gold Coast.
"I'm not saying the Swans and the Brisbane Lions don't have their challenges, but at the same time they've played in seven of the last 13 Grand Finals," he said.
"We're a start-up club, so are Gold Coast.
"We've both got different circumstances – they play in one stadium, they have one local government, we have a lot of local government authorities, we play games in Canberra and have agreements in Wagga.
"Inevitably what happens is the AFL needs to consider every club on its merits and that's what I think will happen with the overall consideration of equalisation.
"Everybody's got various strengths and weaknesses that need to be considered.
"We haven't been here for 30 years (like the Swans), we haven't won two recent premierships, we haven't been able to attract the biggest name in the game in Lance Franklin and the biggest uncontracted player in Kurt Tippett.
"We haven't been able to do those things. And that's not a criticism of the Swans, we've just got a different set of circumstances and need to be treated differently."
Matthews shares the Swans' view on the inflated cost of living in Sydney, but is prepared to see COLA scrapped in its current form.
However he says there can be doubt that Greater Western Sydney requires further assistance, at least in the short term.
"Our view is there's a valid cost of living difference," he said.
"If you look at the costs of being in Sydney as compared to the costs of being in Melbourne, there is a difference there.
"But we're also prepared for the AFL or the industry generally to say 'this is an allowance we want to see discontinued'.
"We just need that assistance replaced in another form, at least for a period, because we're a start-up.
"We're two years old, we're going into our third season, we've only just settled into a home.
"So we've got some challenges, not least of which is making sure our young players see their future at the Giants.
"We're not the same as the Swans. I think that’s apparent to everyone.
"They're a very stable, well respected, financially strong club."
