“The SANFLPA exists to be the voice of the players of the SANFL, to maximise the benefits they receive and to partner with the SANFL to grow the competition.”
Mission statement
What is a players’ association?
Players’ associations are organisations run by players, for the players. They are the best way for players, from every club, to come together to discuss issues relevant to them and to then work with the sporting league to find solutions that benefit everyone.
Every major sporting league has a players’ association.
The AFL has the AFL Players’ Association; the NBL has the Australian Basketball Players’ Association; the netballers have the Australian Netball Players’ Association.
And overseas - NBA players are members of the National Basketball Players’ Association, and soccer players are represented by the Professional Footballers’ Association.
Being a part of a players’ association is normal!
Why do SANFL players need a players’ association?
The SANFL is the second-best Australian rules football competition outside of the AFL. The clubs, players and SANFL all want to see the SANFL continue to be the best it can be.
While the SANFL is able to advocate for the league, and clubs have their CEOs to promote their club’s interests, the one thing that is missing is a body that is dedicated to putting the players’ interests first.
Importantly, the presence of the SANFLPA does not mean that players stop speaking with their clubs!
The relationship between players and their club is the most important. The SANFLPA exists to advocate for issues that affect all players (e.g. wellbeing support; reinstate injury payments). The SANFLPA encourages players to continue to work with their club on any club specific issues.
Without the players there is no game
The players are arguably the most important stakeholder and it makes perfect sense that the players have a seat at the table.
The SANFLPA is the best way for the players’ voice to be heard.
What does the SANFLPA want to achieve?
A seat at the table
From the first meeting with the SANFL, the SANFLPA has made it clear that all the players are asking for is a seat at the table. The opportunity to represent the players’ views and to work with the SANFL and clubs to make the SANFL the best it can be.
SANFL players don’t want to have a louder voice than the clubs. We just want the opportunity to be heard and listened to.
The SANFL runs the competition and it ultimately makes the decisions
At the minute the SANFL only consults the clubs and therefore it misses out on the opportunity of hearing from the players. In 2021 the players indicated that they wanted their collective voice to be heard through the SANFLPA. Since then the PA has been on a journey to make that a reality.
The SANFLPA seeks to establish a collaborative, long term partnership with the SANFL to grow the game.
What does the SANFLPA do?
Our core business is listening to SANFL players.
We represent our members in matters concerning pay, training commitments, fixturing and anything else that the players say is relevant to them.
The SANFLPA Board is in regular contact with the SANFL and meets with the SANFL multiple times a year. Meetings with the SANFL are opportunities to discuss matters relevant to players, provide feedback and to receive updates on the state of the game.
How does the SANFLPA make decisions?
The SANFLPA works from the bottom-up.
The authority for the SANFLPA to do anything comes from the SANFL players who elect the Board. Through each club’s player representatives (delegates), the views of SANFL players are conveyed to the Board.
The Board meets regularly and decisions are made through consensus.
Governance
The SANFLPA is headed up by a five person, player elected Board. At the Annual General Meeting, SANFLPA members have the opportunity to elect who they want to represent them.
The current Board consists of Matthew Crocker, Tom Keough, Mitch Harvey, Jack Heard and Daniel Sladojevic.
The players at each SANFL club have the opportunity to elect delegates. The delegates are the backbone of the PA. They are responsible for communicating messages between the players and the Board, and vice versa.
History
The SANFL Players’ Association has been around since 2007. But for most of the time it existed only in name.
That is, until 2021 when a group of passionate SANFL players got together at a pub on the outskirts of the city to talk about the issues that are of importance to all players.
After a series of follow up meetings amongst themselves and with the SANFL, the group of players resolved that the best way to represent all SANFL players was to form a players’ association.
But before that, they needed to put their idea to the wider playing group.
Surveying the players
Over two nights in July 2021, League and Reserves players from each of the eight standalone SANFL clubs were invited to complete a survey that asked for their views on establishing a players’ association. In total, 357 players completed the survey.
The results were emphatic.
The players wanted to unite under a players’ association.
In November 2021 the Rules of the SANFL Players’ Association were endorsed at a meeting of players and once again SANFL players were in a position to deliver a united voice.
The journey
The SANFL, players and clubs share a common objective - to make the SANFL the best it can be.
Although change can sometimes be uncomfortable and there may be disagreements along the way, we believe that a partnership between the players and the SANFL puts the competition in the strongest position to continue to grow.
Since 2021 the SANFL and the SANFLPA have been meeting regularly. We have always looked at ways to collaborate. Whether that be in surveying the players to better understand what motivates players to play in the SANFL, or updating the players on the state of the game, the SANFLPA is committed to fostering a long term partnership with the SANFL.
Ultimately the strength of the players’ voice depends on the players’ commitment to unite and organise.