Looks like the COL flap isn't going away

[DamY]

Looks like the COL flap isn't going away

Of course, Colless has Eddie on TV (EMT) late last season agreeing that the COLA is both reasonable and needed.

Eddie was probably just being agreeable and deep down feels it's unfair. In his defence he has done a really good job turning that club around and probably feels entitled to be ahead of other clubs as a result, and I think that is starting to creep out through his actions now.

[ShockOfHair]

I heard Roos say three or four years back that Eddie supported the COL after actually having lived in Sydney.

The idea of rethinking how the COL is distributed is not bad idea as Triple B said.

But having seen the figures on the Swans delisted 2012 players I'm thinking:
a) Meredith earned more than Spangher?
b) Clubs and the league should be more open about their payments. Not at the individual player level, but they should disclose publicly how much they paid in total in salaries, veterans' payments, COL and third party arrangements - not just one lump sum as the AFL did last week. Would stop a lot of the whingeing.

[ScottH]

Eddie has said before, it's making sure that COL payment goes to the lesser players, and not to score marquee players.
Although he does harp on about it a lot. So it's hard to read which side of the fence he is sitting on each day.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

That was then:

Of course, Colless has Eddie on TV (EMT) late last season agreeing that the COLA is both reasonable and needed.

This is now: Cookies must be enabled | Herald Sun

Seems Eddie has revised his opinion, again. I do wish there was as much flexibility in my aging vertebrae as there is in that man's ethical landscape. And as for Mark Robinson?s obsequious verbiage, Eddie clearly enjoys having the Hun?s chief football writer trotting out Greasy Eddie?s PR.

But back to the BS hypocrisy in question: So Eddie?s got the cost-of-living allowance in his sights, says he?s got the struggling clubs best interests at heart (ROFL&V), says he?s the champion of equalisation.

Frankly I think the AFL should take him at his word: Have Fat Andy stand up and announce that the Commission has agreed with Eddie and henceforth:

The salary cap will be the same for all clubs, true equalisation at last.

And then before the cheering subsides, announce further, that in the spirit of Eddie?s pleas for equality:

? A cap on football department spending, funnily enough this is one area in which the self serving Collingwood sleazebag absolutely wants NO equalisation at all.

? Equal access to the best venue (the MCG) for all clubs, I?m sure Collingwood would agree to only 2 games at the G per year, in the interest of equalisation.

? A cap on third-party payments, to inhibit the salary-cap-cheating payments that are made to the big Melbourne clubs who somehow never seem to lose a single one of their stars to salary cap pressure (Swan, Cloke, Thomas, Pendlebury, my arse).

Do you think Fat Andy would get through the whole list before Eddie had apoplexy?

Of course the trio above up for discussion, who?d have the guts to challenge Eddie. I just thought they might help illustrate just how hypercritically self serving Eddie?s pronouncements are. That he wraps such barefaced avarice in a pious cloak of concern for the competition is beneath contempt.

Is it just laziness or obsequiousness that ensures such hacks as Robinson let such pronouncements go unquestioned?

[ShockOfHair]

To be fair to Mark Robinson, he'd do the same softball interview with everyone else. He's the go-to guy in softball journalism!

I know I'm repeating myself but I a huge dose of transparency would help this. Let's separately declare club salary payments, veterans' and COL payments. Let's also declare total third party payments and who has paid them. Clubs should also break out their footy department spending. Those are off the top of my head - I'm sure there are more .

There's no reason for the current level of secrecy, and in the wake of recent scandals the league should be forcing clubs to be more open about their affairs.
Plus the AFL is now one of the big media players, reducing the resources independent media have to devote to scrutinising it. Maybe it's not a coincidence that we're now getting these endless series of off-season scandals.

[ernie koala]

That was then:

This is now: Cookies must be enabled | Herald Sun

Seems Eddie has revised his opinion, again. I do wish there was as much flexibility in my aging vertebrae as there is in that man's ethical landscape. And as for Mark Robinson?s obsequious verbiage, Eddie clearly enjoys having the Hun?s chief football writer trotting out Greasy Eddie?s PR.

But back to the BS hypocrisy in question: So Eddie?s got the cost-of-living allowance in his sights, says he?s got the struggling clubs best interests at heart (ROFL&V), says he?s the champion of equalisation.

Frankly I think the AFL should take him at his word: Have Fat Andy stand up and announce that the Commission has agreed with Eddie and henceforth:

The salary cap will be the same for all clubs, true equalisation at last.

And then before the cheering subsides, announce further, that in the spirit of Eddie?s pleas for equality:

? A cap on football department spending, funnily enough this is one area in which the self serving Collingwood sleazebag absolutely wants NO equalisation at all.

? Equal access to the best venue (the MCG) for all clubs, I?m sure Collingwood would agree to only 2 games at the G per year, in the interest of equalisation.

? A cap on third-party payments, to inhibit the salary-cap-cheating payments that are made to the big Melbourne clubs who somehow never seem to lose a single one of their stars to salary cap pressure (Swan, Cloke, Thomas, Pendlebury, my arse).

Do you think Fat Andy would get through the whole list before Eddie had apoplexy?

Of course the trio above up for discussion, who?d have the guts to challenge Eddie. I just thought they might help illustrate just how hypercritically self serving Eddie?s pronouncements are. That he wraps such barefaced avarice in a pious cloak of concern for the competition is beneath contempt.

Is it just laziness or obsequiousness that ensures such hacks as Robinson let such pronouncements go unquestioned?

Agree with you all round.

As for Robinson...He's just a short sighted twit, who loves to make out he's combative.... when the reality is... he just a soft sycophant, serving the Melbourne market.

[erica]

They are still whingeing...

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/sydneys-98-per-cent-bonus-helped-the-swans-afford-former-crow-kurt-tippett-clubs-say/story-e6frexyi-1226602840027

[annew]

They are still whingeing...
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1226602840027

And they are also whinging about our veterans - give me a break. We won, hawthorn lost get over it.

[ScottH]

They are still whingeing...
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1226602840027

And they are also whinging about our veterans - give me a break. We won, hawthorn lost get over it.

Waah, Waah, Waah.

[Reggi]

The veterans list one is hilarious given the rules are the same for everyone.

Sydney management are competent. It's an outrage!

Clearly all that has happened is our football department planned really smartly around the rules. Willing to bet many other football departments did not read the detail. Did not know what you can do

[ScottH]

The veterans list one is hilarious given the rules are the same for everyone.

Sydney management are competent. It's an outrage!

Clearly all that has happened is our football department planned really smartly around the rules. Willing to bet many other football departments did not read the detail. Did not know what you can do

This!!

[Swansongster]

I can't see why the AFL doesn't come out and make a statement to silence (or a least counter) some of this rubbish.

Yes, we have had some soft spin from various talking heads at HQ saying it is all above board but it would be nice to see some front foot offensive play from AFL House demonstrating that there are a range of issues involved in equalisation and that Sydney are more disadvantaged than they are advantaged in any way when it comes to player recruitment and retention.

[ShockOfHair]

Demetrious has defended the Swans on the COL:

AFL boss defends Swans allowance | AFL | Fox Sports

[Untamed Snark]

Seriously?
Do any of those twits commenting on each article listen?
It has been explained again and again that the Swans cannot hoard the COLA, it has been explained again and again how much money was freed up in out trade/delistments
If the Swans were doing anything wrong the AFL would have jumped on us long ago

We won the Premiership
We DO NOT CHEAT
Get over it

[Ruck'n'Roll]

They are still whingeing...
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1226602840027

Does the AFL just dispense the COL money? Or do the dollars actually come from the AFL? The article reads as if it's the latter.