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It has existed for some time, and is why reports are phrased as "X dollars over 3 years" not "X dollars a year for 3 years". The cap is technically not breached as the 7.5% is seen to be rolled over from year to year. Hawthorn is certainly not alone in doing it, they are just citing an example of how they can afford to pay all their players.
What Hawthorn is doing (in this instance) is called 'front loading' contracts - paying moneys ahead of schedule. In the same way contracts can be 'back loaded' - paying less now and more in coming years. Both have their drawbacks, namely allowing less to be spent on developing players to the point they may wish to go to another club. As the Hawks say themselves "they did not engage in bidding wars".
Back loading is particularly risky to the club as if the player or players break down with serious long term injury the club still has to pay them out of their salary cap, rather then jus dropping the player from the list. In the same way contracts protect players from such mishaps, and is why historically players like to be out of contract for the least amount of time possible, hoping to trade or be re-signed rather then waiting 2 months for the drafts.
What Hawthorn is doing (in this instance) is called 'front loading' contracts - paying moneys ahead of schedule. In the same way contracts can be 'back loaded' - paying less now and more in coming years. Both have their drawbacks, namely allowing less to be spent on developing players to the point they may wish to go to another club. As the Hawks say themselves "they did not engage in bidding wars".
Back loading is particularly risky to the club as if the player or players break down with serious long term injury the club still has to pay them out of their salary cap, rather then jus dropping the player from the list. In the same way contracts protect players from such mishaps, and is why historically players like to be out of contract for the least amount of time possible, hoping to trade or be re-signed rather then waiting 2 months for the drafts.
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