Promotional fund plan

AMID the cut and thrust of negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement between the AFL and the AFL Players' Association, the League has revealed a plan for players to share in an annual $5 million promotional fund.

AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson told The Sunday Age the proposal was part of the League's original proposal to the AFLPA and would directly reward the players for contributing to the growth and development of the game.

''The idea would be to spread it relatively evenly across the clubs and it would be dependent on what you [were] after for particular people," he said.

''As part of a multicultural program, we would try and identify players with different multicultural backgrounds. There would be indigenous programs, it really depends on what aspect we are trying to develop or promote. If it was a social media aspect, it could be some of the players who are more heavily engaged or interested there.

''It happens to a certain extent now but we think we can formalise it and ramp it up and have a guaranteed minimum spend. There is no minimum spend at the moment. It's a bit ad hoc.''

He said the AFL also had plans to increase the additional services agreement, otherwise known as third-party agreements, from a maximum of $573,000 per club.

''The salary cap is a great thing for the competition, for the evenness of the competition, but the players it affects the most are some of the stars of the game,'' Anderson said.

''This would provide an opportunity for a lot of them to be legitimately paid more for what they bring to the game as well.''

AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis told The Sunday Age the players were open to all improved benefits.

''However, they also tell us that their priority is for extra resources to be used for long-term benefits and support programs such as a pension for retired players and improved injury compensation.''

With friends like these

Poor Dean Bailey. The Melbourne coach goes from chocolates to boiled lollies on a weekly rotation, it seems. The big wins over Fremantle and Richmond had kept the critics at bay for a while, but the thumping at the hands of the Western Bulldogs on Friday night has put his head on the chopping block again.

Reprising Carlton midfielder Mitch Robinson's infamous comment about the Demons playing 'bruise-free' football, former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon told The Sunday Age they had played 'inoffensive' and 'selective' football against the Dogs, picking and choosing when to get physical and win the hard ball.

Lyon then proved he could win a hard ball by suggesting that Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson would be "a magnificent fit" for Melbourne if he were available and Melbourne had a vacancy.

Gilbert on his gaffe

St Kilda defender Sam Gilbert has told the Herald Sun he doesn't want his career defined by the off-field scandal over the publication of nude photos of teammates.

Gilbert, whose photos of captain Nick Riewoldt and midfielder Nick Dal Santo went viral when the so-called 'St Kilda schoolgirl' published them online, said he could understand Riewoldt's hurt, but insisted they quickly patched up their differences.

"Unfortunately, it was a situation that happened, and obviously he was disappointed, and that was more than fair enough," Gilbert said.

"I felt terrible for him. I felt horrible. But we have moved on from that, and that's all that matters."

Gilbert said part of the healing process was rooming with Riewoldt on the Saints' pre-season camp in New Zealand.

"I think we both kind of joked that we would do it (room together on the trip) and to just have a bit of fun with it," he said.

"It was kind of good for us to do. When you get to hang out for a week, you go straight past the little problems you might have."

Trengove and tackles

AFL umpires chief Geoff Gieschen says a tackle by Melbourne midfielder Jack Trengove that won the young Demon a free kick against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night may be referred to the match review panel.

Trengove's tackle on Bulldog Callan had "the characteristics of a sling tackle" Gieschen told 3AW.

Trengove was suspended for three weeks earlier this season for a tackle on Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield that left the Crow concussed.

It might be time for Trengove pack away any tackle that involves turning his opponent's body sideways.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs