{"id":594584,"date":"2026-04-09T01:18:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T01:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/594584\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T01:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T01:18:12","slug":"ben-dixons-plea-to-fix-soft-cap-crisis-first-crack-opening-round-fixture-set-for-2027-overhaul-latest-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/594584\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Dixon\u2019s plea to fix soft cap crisis, First Crack, Opening Round fixture set for 2027 overhaul, latest news"},"content":{"rendered":"

A great has issued a plea over an AFL soft cap \u201ccrisis.\u201d Plus the league\u2019s most controversial fixture is set to be overhauled. MORE IN AFL DAILY.<\/p>\n

Watch every match of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Crows under fire over Rankine usage | 02:34<\/p>\n

\u2018OUT OF WHACK\u2019 PLEA TO FIX SOFT CAP \u2018CRISIS\u2019<\/p>\n

Former Hawthorn champion Ben Dixon has issued a plea for an extra $1 million be added to the soft cap to solve a \u201ccoaching crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

The AFL soft cap spending on footy departments has dropped from $9.4 million in 2015 to $7.9 million currently. Whereas player wages have increased from an average of $300,000 in 2015 up to $500,000 right now. <\/p>\n

While there has been a soft cap bump from where it was in 2020 ($6.2 million), Dixon argued it\u2019s not enough. <\/p>\n

Speaking on Fox Footy\u2019s First Crack: Preview, the former Hawks sharpshooter suggested there was currently too much strain on assistant coaches working \u201c90-hour weeks\u201d that he thinks should be paid more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to touch on something pretty serious, I think we\u2019re in a bit of a crisis with coaching,\u201d Dixon began. <\/p>\n

\u201cMichael Voss is in the gun, Brad Scott is in the gun. In the media, we\u2019ve got no option but to point it at the senior coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to have a look at the soft cap … we went through Covid and they made a (soft cap) correction and brought it down to $6.2 million and the players took a hit.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut since then, the coaches have gone down 15.7 per cent and the players have gone up 67 per cent. It\u2019s just out of whack, for mine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe assistant coaches can\u2019t operate on $150,000 a year on 90-hour weeks. It\u2019s not feasible for the families and we\u2019re in inflation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got to pay these guys more money, because they\u2019re IP. They\u2019ve done a PHD when they\u2019ve played.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘Not acceptable’ – Schofield on Eagles | 01:16<\/p>\n

MORE AFL COVERAGE<\/p>\n

18-CLUB DEEP DIVE: Every AFL club\u2019s depth ranked 1-18… and their squeezed-out stars who could be gettable<\/a><\/p>\n

BIG BLUES CALL: \u2018The only conclusion\u2019 to take from \u2018salt of the earth\u2019 star\u2019s brutal axing\u2026 and why it could work<\/a><\/p>\n

GUN UNDER MICROSCOPE: Fears Crows are \u2018orchestrating the demise\u2019 of star\u2026 and why fans could \u2018turn quick\u2019 on coach<\/a><\/p>\n

CHAMPION INDEX: One AFL rebuilder cut ties for \u2018fresh air\u2019. The other rues a \u2018major stuff-up\u2019 after trade gamble<\/a><\/p>\n

Dixon added that the current pool is coaches is \u201cshallow\u201d and \u201cnot deep enough,\u201d questioning if it meant the game was at risk of losing high quality senior coaches in waiting.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we missing the (Craig) McRae, (Sam) Mitchell and (Steven) Kings of the world? Because we\u2019re not paying them enough and they\u2019re going into the corporate world and earning their $300,000,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIncrease the cap for the coaches another million, take it to $10 million. Take it to a point where you can pay a guy, not $150,000, but $300,000. Keep him there, grow him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou had (Adem) Yze, \u2018Bevo\u2019 (Luke Beveridge) and \u2018Simmo\u2019 (Alastair Clarkson) underneath \u2018Clarko\u2019 (Alastair Clarkson) at Hawthorn… this is insane we don\u2019t have the level of depth in coaching right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kangaroos legend David King posted whether the soft cap and salary cap could be merged to give more power to clubs to allocate funds where they see necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder if you could merge the two. It\u2019s on the club then and whatever phase you\u2019re in,\u201d the dual premiership Kangaroo said on the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to pour your money into development coaches, the money is there and maybe your stocks are a big light on and you\u2019ve got younger players.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just think merge the two and let the clubs run the business for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

AFL Soft Cap v Player Wage<\/p>\n

2015<\/p>\n

Soft Cap – $9.4 million<\/p>\n

Average Player Wage – $302,000<\/p>\n

2020<\/p>\n

Soft Cap – $6.2 million <\/p>\n

Average Player Wage – $250,000<\/p>\n

2026<\/p>\n

Soft Cap – $7.9 million<\/p>\n

Average Player Wage – $506,000<\/p>\n

Daicos, Pendlebury to return | 02:55<\/p>\n

OPENING ROUND SET FOR 2027 OVERHAUL<\/p>\n

Opening Round as we know it is set to for an overhaul, with the 2027 concept set for a brand new look.<\/p>\n

Next year\u2019s \u2018Round 0\u2019 could feature all 18 clubs, though it will still be weighted towards the northern state markets.<\/p>\n

It follows multiple clubs venting frustration towards the controversial fixture, which caused a stir among the wider footy community.<\/p>\n

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir ripped the \u201cadvantage\u201d clubs that play in Opening Round get against less battle worn opponents the following week.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Hawthorn\u2019s 18-day break \u2014 just three games into its campaign \u2014 between Thursday night\u2019s win over Sydney and Easter Monday has also sparked debate.<\/p>\n

Already the start of the 2027 season is set to be disrupted, however, due to the MCG hosting the 150th Anniversary Cricket Test between Australia and England from March 11 to 15.<\/p>\n

SA government seeking Gather round deal | 03:45<\/p>\n

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon confirmed on SEN radio this week that the league was open minded to a different look for Opening Round in 2027.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether it\u2019s Opening Round, whether it\u2019s teams having 18 days off between games and the like, is that right from a competition integrity perspective? We will listen to our clubs about that,\u201d Dillon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have got complexity next year with some venue availability, so the start of the season will look different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seven\u2019s Xander McGuire confirmed the messaging out of AFL house was that Opening Round in 2017 \u201cwon\u2019t look anything like it did this year\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s starting to move and they\u2019re zeroing in on a Round 1 type of fixture where all 18 clubs, soon to be 19 clubs, will be involved in the first week of footy. To get rid of that competitive imbalance,\u201d he said on Agenda Setters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it will still be weighted very heavily towards the northern states to make sure they get the boost or jab they really want out of that start to the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other element is the Sesquicentenary Test … my understanding there is they\u2019re starting to accept their fate, that it\u2019s probably more likely they\u2019ll have to move the season back and we could be looking at an October grand final.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A great has issued a plea over an AFL soft cap \u201ccrisis.\u201d Plus the league\u2019s most controversial fixture…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":594585,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,279178,12259,45082,64,63,689,55,2492,639,684,7491,696,290184,290179,290182,273844,1818,54896,1208,2057,11289,290183,10400,70519,663,3257,290187,673,3583,290175,677,290181,290185,7889,19083,40512,290178,290177,290180,85,670,290186,290176,45705,103337],"class_list":{"0":"post-594584","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-afl","8":"tag-afl","9":"tag-afl-house","10":"tag-andrew-dillon","11":"tag-assistant-coaches","12":"tag-au","13":"tag-australia","14":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","15":"tag-australian-football-league","16":"tag-australian-government","17":"tag-australianfootballleague","18":"tag-ben-cotton","19":"tag-ben-dixon","20":"tag-brad-scott","21":"tag-clubs-venting-frustration","22":"tag-coaching-crisis","23":"tag-competition-integrity-perspective","24":"tag-controversial-fixture","25":"tag-david-king","26":"tag-development-coaches","27":"tag-england","28":"tag-europe","29":"tag-footy-community","30":"tag-footy-departments","31":"tag-justin-longmuir","32":"tag-kangaroos-legend","33":"tag-luke-beveridge","34":"tag-michael-voss","35":"tag-multiple-clubs-venting","36":"tag-new-south-wales","37":"tag-northern-europe","38":"tag-northern-state-markets","39":"tag-oceania","40":"tag-player-wages","41":"tag-quality-senior-coaches","42":"tag-salary-cap","43":"tag-scott-pendlebury","44":"tag-soft-cap","45":"tag-soft-cap-bump","46":"tag-soft-cap-crisis","47":"tag-soft-cap-spending","48":"tag-sports","49":"tag-sydney","50":"tag-v-player-wage","51":"tag-venue-availability","52":"tag-will-schofield","53":"tag-xander-mcguire"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=594584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594584\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/594585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=594584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=594584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=594584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}