Clubs claim Western Australian teams’ travel load is not a disadvantage because of business class seats

Interstate clubs reportedly feel Walyalup (Fremantle) and Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) having access to business class flights east takes away the competitive disadvantage of their immense travel schedules. The revelation comes as the league embarks on a competitive balance review, which will also involve discussions over a national reserves competition and a push for more trophies to be handed out during the season. The Herald Sun is reporting some clubs, including Geelong, feel the Eagles and Dockers are not disadvantaged by their hefty schedule of flights because, under the new collective bargaining agreement, they are afforded 12 business class seats. Waalitj Marawar and Walyalup charter flights to away games and do so at a loss. The Eagles sell tickets to fans on their flights in a bid to offset those expenses. The league funds teams to fly 50 people commercially, leaving a significant cost for the clubs to cover. The complaints are despite the Dockers and Eagles combining for 22 interstate trips this season, while reigning premiers Collingwood will leave Victoria just six times before finals. The Eagles and Dockers both also hosted pseudo home games in Adelaide as part of the league’s Gather Round. WA clubs have produced just three 300-game players, Walyalup duo Matthew Pavlich and David Mundy and Eagles premiership skipper Shannon Hurn. “I can tell you tonight that some clubs are arguing that the WA clubs are not disadvantaged by the travel burdens they’ve taken on,” Herald Sun journalist Sam Landsberger told Fox Footy. “This is extraordinary to me, but they believe that under the CBA, the WA clubs — they’re afforded 12 business class seats for every flight to and from the eastern seaboard — therefore they’re at no disadvantage for the travel burdens they take on each year.” The AFL Players Association’s Insights and Impact Report released earlier this week only briefly touches on the concerns over competitive balance with a line that says: “The differing travel demands placed on teams can contribute to competitive imbalances”. Walyalup fly to Melbourne today to take on Euro-Yroke (St Kilda) on Saturday.