New AFL Grant Program Helps Clubs Care for Concussed, Medically Retired Players

AFL and AFLW players who retired before the end of their “Standard Playing Contract subject to recommendation from the AFL Concussion Panel” are eligible for clubs to get relief from total player payments (TPP).

In the midst of continuous talks about player compensation after concussions forced the early retirements of Nathan Murphy of Collingwood, Aiden O’Driscoll of the Western Bulldogs, and Angus Brayshaw of Melbourne.

The opportunity to progressively pay the agreed-upon financial settlement with the player throughout the contract and the ability to reach maximum salary cap relief thresholds within three years of retirement are the two main aspects for impacted players.

The following explanation of the breakdown (from the AFL):

Relief from TPP for AFL players
In brief, the Guidelines allow for two aspects of the TPP relief that are relevant to AFL players:

The ability to spread out the agreed-upon payment terms for the player’s financial settlement across the course of the Standard Playing Contract.
Maximum TPP relief thresholds in the three years after the retirement year:

1. Maximum Threshold in the Year 1 that immediately follows the Retirement Year: 90%
2. Year 2 Max Threshold: 75% in the second year after the retirement year (Year 2).
3. Year 3 Max Threshold: 50% in the third year after the retirement year (Year 3).

Clubs are asked to take this into consideration when negotiating contracts with players, since the AFL mandates that no respite regarding TPP commitments would be granted for more than three years.

The League also announced the TPP relief for AFLW players in the case that they retire due to a concussion, and the AFL Commission authorized the guidelines’ release.

“Normally, when an AFLW player is injured and cannot play any more, they receive their contractual payments; however, the replacement player’s payments are not deducted from the club’s total payables. But regardless of the retiring player’s tier, they can only be replaced by a tier four player in accordance with the terms of the CBA and AFLW list rules,” the statement read.

According to the guidelines, the concussion TPP committee may, at its discretion, allow the injured player to be replaced with a player from a tier above tier four (on terms to be determined at its discretion) in cases where an AFLW player retires subject to a recommendation made by an AFL concussion panel.

“In consideration and determination of such a matter, the concussion TPP committee will again look at the terms of the relevant contract and the circumstances of each eligible retirement.”