Shepparton's Shaun Hart and Kyabram's Brett Deledio have been let go from roles at Gold Coast and Hawthorn respectively, with the AFL's football department soft salary cap expected to be cut by about $3 million for next season.
With an AFL exemption allowing termination payments this off-season to fall outside the salary cap, jobs have been shed right across the league, with Hart and Deledio just two of the casualties.
Former Shepparton United player Hart was serving his second stint at the Suns. He sandwiched four seasons as Port Adelaide's director of coaching with five seasons as a Suns’ assistant from 2009 to 2013 and another three as the club's head of development from 2018 to 2020.
Gold Coast football operations manager Jon Haines said job losses were unavoidable at present.
“Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, every AFL football department is currently considering plans to support its playing group with a significant reduction in the football soft cap,” he said.
“As part of this process, we have been unable to offer a number of Suns football department staff an opportunity for 2021 and beyond.
“This is an incredibly tough period as we have had to say goodbye to good people who have made a significant contribution to the Gold Coast Suns. We will always be thankful to those affected for their hard work and dedication.”
Kyabram's Deledio, who was in his first season of retirement after playing last season with the GWS Giants, had signed as a development coach at Hawthorn and to play for VFL affiliate Box Hill, but was stood down from the role when the season was initially shut down.
Deledio was one of five Hawks to be cut from coaching roles.
“Over the past month we have had to make some very difficult decisions regarding good Hawthorn people,” general manager of football Graham Wright said.
“But unfortunately due to the reduction in the soft cap we have been forced to make some incredibly tough decisions at this time.”
● But it is a different situation facing Shepparton's Adem Yze this off-season.
The former Shepparton United player and Melbourne champion seemingly has no shortage of suitors as he continues to climb the AFL coaching ranks.
Currently a highly-rated Hawthorn assistant coach, Yze has drawn interest from Essendon, Adelaide and Melbourne, per reports, despite being contracted at the Hawks for the 2021 season.
Foxfooty.com.au reported yesterday Essendon was keen to bring in the sharp football mind to replace the intel of outgoing senior coach John Worsfold, while the Demons are reportedly also interested in bringing the favourite son back to the club where he made his name.
Yze was right in the mix to take Adelaide's senior coaching role last year before Matthew Nicks got the gig, but the Crows are understood to have remained keen on bringing him to the club before he knocked that on the head in order to stay in Victoria for family reasons.
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