Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy believes a salary cap on coaching staff would remove one of the few areas left where clubs could work within the rules to give themselves the best chance of success. “The only way clubs can get better and work around the AFL rules – that being the fact you get the last draft choice every time you win a Premiership - is to employ the best and most intelligent coaches,” Sheedy said.

“They want coaches to take their team to the people to promote the game. You are away for decent chunks of time – the job of a coach has actually grown and now they sound like they want to pay us less for doing more, probably because they stuffed up the TV contract.”

“It would be a restraint of trade in some way shape or form I would imagine. I don’t think the people suggesting this actually talk to the coaches enough about the coaching job. But we will find out what is going on, we have some meetings coming up with them.”

On the football front, Sheedy suggested James Hird could play some football in the backline during 2003. ""We will see how the season pans out but I would think he will spend some time back there,"" Sheedy said. ""The games James has played in the pre-season have been pretty good.""