THE RICH clubs get richer, the poor get the picture, says former Melbourne CEO Cameron Schwab.
Schwab has lashed out at the AFL model, saying it "is good at making money" but that's largely because the biggest clubs get "the best opportunities".
"This has consigned the smaller clubs to staying small," he wrote in a Fairfax Media column.
"The game's wealth is not distributed in a way that supports the clear objective of competitive balance.
"With the introduction of free agency, it is a valid argument to suggest that wealth distribution is at least as important as the draft and salary cap in terms of the health of the competition."
He said the Swans' massive deal for Lance Franklin was a sign of strategic management at the highest level, but the clubs in need of Franklin most could "never entertain the possibility".
"The objective of a salary cap is to force trade-offs by the stronger clubs to free up talent for weaker clubs," he said.
"A properly equalised competition should mean that the notion of strong and weak is just a point in time. After almost 30 years, this has not been achieved.
"The wealth in our sport has never been greater. Yet we still have clubs unable to pay 100 per cent of the salary cap, a figure negotiated by the AFL on behalf of the clubs.
"These same clubs need Franklin. To build hope, to develop a team and attract support. But they can only dream."
Schwab said the AFL relied on the draft and salary cap as its "true from of equalisation and any compromises "exposed the most vulnerable clubs".
