Cash ... Rivals believe the Swans were able to afford Kurt Tippett with the cost-of-living allowance. Source: News Limited
SYDNEY says it would be prepared to let the AFL take charge of its contentious $900,000 a year cost-of-living allowance to silence baying critics.
Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland has already lodged a club submission on keeping the 9.8 per cent dispensation and is awaiting an AFL Commission decision.
He argues the Swans already apply that formula to every new contract, despite some believing Sydney uses the extra cash to build a war chest for acquisitions like Kurt Tippett.
But Ireland says the club would be prepared to let the AFL dole out the extra cash on individual contracts if it kept Victoria's power clubs happy.
The AFL is likely to tie a decision on Sydney's cost-of-living allowance into its equalisation strategy, meaning a call is not yet pending.
The league seems unlikely to abolish it entirely, despite lobbying from rivals, with Carlton boss Greg Swann saying recently it was "staggered'' the Swans could afford Tippett.
"All we have been told is that the AFL will review it and we have sent our information into the AFL putting our point across,'' Ireland said.
"The fact is AFL rules stipulate all players get it. It isn't an optional thing. Do you think player managers don't factor the extra 10per cent into their negotiations? If the theory is that the AFL kept control of that money, and when we negotiated contracts they paid the extra 9.8per cent on top of it, that makes sense too.
"All we need to ensure is the players we are recruiting get the compensation the AFL have indicated they need to live in Sydney. The reality is it is significantly dearer to live here. If we didn't get it we would be at risk of players deciding they couldn't afford to live here.''
The league already funds the entire cost-of-living allowance, which will hit $940,000 next year.
The Swans will again have extra salary cap room this year, given defender Marty Mattner has retired and veteran Jude Bolton is likely to finally call it a day.
Tippett was recruited on a huge deal, but Sydney argues it cut six players who were on base payments of a total of $1million, with the salary cap also going up from $8.78million last year to $9.14million.
Victorian power clubs Collingwood, Hawthorn and Carlton are at the forefront of opposition to the allowance, with Swann particularly vocal: ``We are staggered that the premiers can add an $800,000-per-season player to their list without shedding anyone,'' Swann said.
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