New rule set to help clubs keep veteran players

A new rule introduced by the AFL could encourage clubs to keep veteran players on the books, instead of letting them go.

Under the older set of rules, clubs were permitted to place 50% of a veteran player’s salary outside of the cap, but now up to $112,000 can be excluded from the cap, reports News Ltd.

This means mature players such as Jason Blake, Ben Johnson and Nathan Lovett-Murray could potentially have their entire wages sitting outside the cap, freeing up dollars to be spent on other players and encouraging clubs not to let go of their veterans prematurely.

It is believed Collingwood are poised to utilize the new rules to keep Johnson. Though his match payments would be included in the salary cap, it would still cost less than if the Magpies tried to keep a rookie.

Other veteran players are expected to take advantage of the new rules.