The AFL has finally clarified its position with regards to injury concessions and their effect on total player payments.

“Essendon Football Club believes the method for calculating injury concessions is now equitable to all clubs whether the majority of their players are on performance-based or fixed-base deals,” Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said.

“Essendon Football Club was happy to have assisted in these negotiations.”

“It is however disappointing that it has taken until December to have this issue resolved when much of the club’s contract negotiations were being done between June and October."

“While the method of calculating concessions is now equitable, the level of concessions are significantly lower than in 1999 and lower than the club had anticipated after discussions earlier in the year.

As a result of the final position on injury concessions, Essendon Football Club is unable to re-contract Barry Young. The club believes Barry will now nominate for the pre-season draft.

“It is unfortunate for Barry who had a very good year for us last year. He still has some good football to offer other clubs and we wish him the best wherever his future might be,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the situation the club found itself in with Barry Young was a reflection of the cost pressures faced by clubs with deep playing lists.

“We have re-signed the likes of Joe Misiti, Matthew Lloyd and Justin Blumfield this season among others. To keep players of that ilk isn’t cheap – it’s the penalty you pay for having a quality list,” Jackson said.

“We will have a list of 40 players for season 2000. If we didn’t have two veterans that is what we would have been allowed to go with anyway. It is an excellent playing list and we are happy to go into the season with those 40 players.”