COLA to be replaced by rent subsidy

[chalbilto]

Tonight on AFL 360 Mark Robinson was asked if the COLA hatred towards Sydney would last until the end of the season to which he replied that some Melbourne based presidents should zip it. He also said that players haven't signed with Sydney just because of an extra 10% on their contract but by excellent recruiting. Finally acknowledgement that the COLA represnts an extra 10% on the players contracts and not on an extra $1,000,000 used for Tippett and Franklin. Needless to say Gerard Whateley didn't say anything and just nodded.

[CureTheSane]

I know this has reared it's head again after the Geelong flogging.
But really why??

The COLA is being wiped out. Not going to change now.

And as good as we were, Geelong were bloody hopeless. Worst game I've seen Geelong play for a long time.

And it wasn't our 2 big guns that won the game. They sure helped, but the drive off the back line, and mids killed it.
They mainly consist of recycled players and homegrown.

So why is Jackson jumping up and down about it now?

That about sums it up for me.

I really don't mind the COLA discussion, as it will be gone soon.
They will still whine about the 'residual effects' but nobody will pay much attention to that.

Same with the "Bondi Billionaires"
BFD
Embrace it I say.
in fact if nobody cares that they are being called that it will die off anyway...

[Mug Punter]

As Liz pointed out earlier when the topic of COLA becoming $15,000 rental assistance first arose, the $15,000 would be pre tax. So it is likely to end up being closer to $200 per week than $300. Still a very helpful subsidy though.

It would be the same as getting 9.8% COLA for a player on $153,000 and more than COLA for a player on less than that (e.g. a rookie). Obviously it is not an insignificant decrease for those who no longer qualify, but if the cutoff point is $300,000 as reported, this will be a minority of our players.

Why has this emerged again now, even though it is obvious COLA is about to go? Because our wonderful win last Thurs night has got a whole lot of people fearful we might be standing on the podium in late Sept. So they have got the hate mail going that we could only do it because we bought Tippett and Franklin with COLA money. And are therefore undeserving. Disgraceful journalism, shameful behaviour by presidents of other clubs and ignorant, ill-informed commentary on social media by supporters from other clubs.

I am loving the fact that we have COLA for another two full seasons thereby giving the likes of Gordon, Eddie and Michael the opportunity to regularly expose their lack of intelligence.

COLA was appropriate when introduced but became somewhat outdated, it has been replaced by a fairer system. That new system is being implemented over a fair time frame.

Surely it is time for everyone in Melbourne to move on....

On the Couch also had a great analysis of the salaries we have shedded over the last few years showing how really afforded Buddy.

Fact is it is our superior recruitment and list management that allowed us such mega-deals. Any competitive penalty by losing COLA, and lets face it there will be some, will be more than offset by the benefits we will reap from our Academy. Starting with Isaac Heeney next year, the young bloke looks the goods and I reckon with another ressies games and an off-season in the gym will be pshing for a run first season up.

[ScottH]

Apparently Robbo on Afl 360 stated the real facts.
And then this from Pridham.

"@Pridhamhq: Just watched On The Couch. At last a balanced discussion on COLA and the Swans progress. Well done Gerard, Mike and Jason. Faith restored."

[ernie koala]

Really heartened...And surprised... By the sudden turn around in the reporting of COLA and the Swans situation. Finally some facts have emerged .

Whateleys' stoney faced nonresponse, to some simple facts, was telling.

All we need now is the AFL themselves to crawl out from under their rock and verbalise the facts....Not holding my breath.

[Big Al]

Really heartened...And surprised... By the sudden turn around in the reporting of COLA and the Swans situation. Finally some facts have emerged .

Whateleys' stoney faced nonresponse, to some simple facts, was telling.

All we need now is the AFL themselves to crawl out from under their rock and verbalise the facts....Not holding my breath.

+1

After calling for Robbo's sacking after suggesting Hanners should have gone in head first on that bump he has now redeemed himself with his stance on racism and now being the voice of reason on the whole COLA idiocy.

Whateley on the other hand should give himself a couple of upper cuts. Just pathetic.

[ScottH]

Pinched from Facebook.

swans Bal Sheet.jpg

[Conor_Dillon]

Pinched from Facebook.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1026[/ATTACH]

Do you think those numbers would be reasonably accurate or just ballpark figures? 300k for Seaby seems excessive!

Either way it's great to finally see a balanced COLA argument with some actual facts and figures to back it up...hopefully that will put it to bed.

[liz]

Do you think those numbers would be reasonably accurate or just ballpark figures? 300k for Seaby seems excessive!

Either way it's great to finally see a balanced COLA argument with some actual facts and figures to back it up...hopefully that will put it to bed.

I reckon they are guesses. A few look a bit off. However, I reckon the Seaby one is probably reasonably close to actual, based on what was reported at the time they were signed. The Mumford one looks way too high, though we'd have needed to pay him at least that to keep him, you'd think, while I suspect the White one is too low.

[Matt80]

I reckon they are guesses. A few look a bit off. However, I reckon the Seaby one is probably reasonably close to actual, based on what was reported at the time they were signed. The Mumford one looks way too high, though we'd have needed to pay him at least that to keep him, you'd think, while I suspect the White one is too low.

I have no insider knowledge but one number has me sceptical. Everett was on $280,000? Everett has made public comments to suggest that he was a lowly paid Swans player who needed the COLA because he wanted to start a family.

Any one on $280,000, living in Sydney, can live comfortably if they are living a modest lifestyle. It?s for this reason that I doubt his wage was as high as $280,000.

[R-1]

White and Armstrong would have been front-ended I suspect.

[DA_Swan]

I have no insider knowledge but one number has me sceptical. Everett was on $280,000? Everett has made public comments to suggest that he was a lowly paid Swans player who needed the COLA because he wanted to start a family.

Any one on $280,000, living in Sydney, can live comfortably if they are living a modest lifestyle. It?s for this reason that I doubt his wage was as high as $280,000.

I think the Swans might have loaded the gun and let Gerrard & Mike pull the trigger - figures look believable to me and should take a lot of the fizz out of argument

[Reggi]

Isn't the COLA being phased out anyway? 2 more years to run? If so we're arguing about not much. Just perceptions and anger about Tippet and Franklin. The position will be much clearer in a year or two with a bunch of high level retirements.

I have no insider knowledge but one number has me sceptical. Everett was on $280,000? Everett has made public comments to suggest that he was a lowly paid Swans player who needed the COLA because he wanted to start a family.

Any one on $280,000, living in Sydney, can live comfortably if they are living a modest lifestyle. It?s for this reason that I doubt his wage was as high as $280,000.

This comment is just completely not getting it at all. Cost of living is relative. He could live far better in Melbourne. $280k is not massive money. He said this himself

[Doctor]

I was watching last night too. Robbo was superb, and as it was in the 360 seconds segment he said he piece succinctly (amazingly so by his standards) and they moved on. The On The Couch guys were excellent, fair and based their comments on the facts, which was refreshing. The screen grab above may have been pinched from Facebook but was the one they displayed on screen during the discussion.

[ernie koala]

Most contracts vary from year to year with front ended, and back ended, contacts.

I agree with DA_ Swan, these figures were probably supplied by the Swans.