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http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl...deal-for-players/story-e6frf3e3-1226137908197
The AFL says it is shocked the players "utterly rejected" its pay offer of $1.144 billion over five years.
Pay talks between the AFL and players ended on Thursday morning without agreement.
AFL TV Rights
In the money: AFL cashes in with new TV deal + 119 Historic: Fox Sports at heart of new deal + 25 CBA: Players eye fair share of TV cash + 12 Overview: Everyone's a winner in new deal + 5
The league had given players until Thursday to respond to its $1.144 billion five-year offer, lodged two weeks ago.
The players dropped their demand for a fixed percentage of the game's revenue, contingent on the deal being for three years instead of five.
But Demetriou said the players' compromise amounted to a demand for more money, which the league could not afford.
"When I say there is no more money, there is no more money," he said.
"When you come back from a five-year deal with a three-year deal, with the first years being front-loaded, by implication you want more money.
"The demands players put to us today and changes to the offer represent a significant rise in the amount of money they are seeking.
"I think there will be a fair bit of surprise across the football industry that the players don't think the deal is a fair one.
"For our offer to be utterly rejected, I'm just surprised."
Demetriou said the AFL could pull its offer from the table.
"I can't guarantee that the offer that has been provided, that has been rejected, will be there next time."
He said a major sticking point was the players' refusal to sign over use of their images in AFL promotion.
"It is unfortunate they have seen fit to refuse the ability to use players' images to promote the game," Demetriou said.
"I think most people would be surprised by the news today and indeed we were ... I think any any employee offered $1.44 billion ... would be surprised it has been knocked back."
Demetriou said the AFL had an obligation to support players but also clubs, players, state leagues and grassroots facilities.
"Under the scenario put to us by AFLPA today that balance is skewed, unfairly so, for the rest of the football industry."
He "encouraged" players to talk to staff at their clubs, volunteers and junior coaches to get a "greater understanding" of the AFL's priorities.
"I think players need to consider the impact of their actions on their clubs, supporters and community football networks that helped them get there."
He said the AFL would stick to its timeline of meeting clubs on September 26 to update them on their annual financial distribution, and could not predict the next move in the pay dispute.
"As disappointed and surprised as we are at today's outcome, we will cont to talk to the players.
"While we are thoroughly disappointed we will continue to talk to the AFLPA. We think we have done everything we can to provide the best possible deal. There is no more money for the players."
The AFLPA has scheduled its own media conference for 3.30pm
Works out to be about 400k a player a year !!! (squad of 42 times 17 teams)
Amazing money for a sport just played in Australia.
The AFL says it is shocked the players "utterly rejected" its pay offer of $1.144 billion over five years.
Pay talks between the AFL and players ended on Thursday morning without agreement.
AFL TV Rights
In the money: AFL cashes in with new TV deal + 119 Historic: Fox Sports at heart of new deal + 25 CBA: Players eye fair share of TV cash + 12 Overview: Everyone's a winner in new deal + 5
The league had given players until Thursday to respond to its $1.144 billion five-year offer, lodged two weeks ago.
The players dropped their demand for a fixed percentage of the game's revenue, contingent on the deal being for three years instead of five.
But Demetriou said the players' compromise amounted to a demand for more money, which the league could not afford.
"When I say there is no more money, there is no more money," he said.
"When you come back from a five-year deal with a three-year deal, with the first years being front-loaded, by implication you want more money.
"The demands players put to us today and changes to the offer represent a significant rise in the amount of money they are seeking.
"I think there will be a fair bit of surprise across the football industry that the players don't think the deal is a fair one.
"For our offer to be utterly rejected, I'm just surprised."
Demetriou said the AFL could pull its offer from the table.
"I can't guarantee that the offer that has been provided, that has been rejected, will be there next time."
He said a major sticking point was the players' refusal to sign over use of their images in AFL promotion.
"It is unfortunate they have seen fit to refuse the ability to use players' images to promote the game," Demetriou said.
"I think most people would be surprised by the news today and indeed we were ... I think any any employee offered $1.44 billion ... would be surprised it has been knocked back."
Demetriou said the AFL had an obligation to support players but also clubs, players, state leagues and grassroots facilities.
"Under the scenario put to us by AFLPA today that balance is skewed, unfairly so, for the rest of the football industry."
He "encouraged" players to talk to staff at their clubs, volunteers and junior coaches to get a "greater understanding" of the AFL's priorities.
"I think players need to consider the impact of their actions on their clubs, supporters and community football networks that helped them get there."
He said the AFL would stick to its timeline of meeting clubs on September 26 to update them on their annual financial distribution, and could not predict the next move in the pay dispute.
"As disappointed and surprised as we are at today's outcome, we will cont to talk to the players.
"While we are thoroughly disappointed we will continue to talk to the AFLPA. We think we have done everything we can to provide the best possible deal. There is no more money for the players."
The AFLPA has scheduled its own media conference for 3.30pm
Works out to be about 400k a player a year !!! (squad of 42 times 17 teams)
Amazing money for a sport just played in Australia.
