Impact doesn’t transfer to WAFL competition

Abolishing national transfer fees for State League competitions at the end of last season has had a limited impact on WAFL player movement this season.

The number of players arriving to, and departing from WAFL clubs is below average compared to the previous three years, with the net player loss or gain shifting slightly from -0.3 to +3 for the 2017 McDonald’s WAFL Premiership Season.

WAFL General Manager Steve Hargrave said that from a WA perspective, the limited impact on player movement reflected overall stability at a national level in relation to transfers between State Leagues.

“We’ve actually seen the overall number of players moving into and out of the WAFL competition remain fairly constant since the decision to abolish National Transfer Fees.

“It certainly hasn’t had a negative impact on the WAFL to date.

“We will continue to monitor this and how it affects interstate player movements but so far it appears to have been a positive move towards reducing the number of players moving between State Leagues and the financial impact that was having on players and clubs.”