Pay to play in Carnival

PLAYERS chosen to represent the South West Football League at this year's Landmark Carnival will be forced to pay for the privilege.

At the league's April 28 meeting, the clubs voted five-four to charge players $150 to help cover the cost the league will face for competing in the two-day competition in Perth on July 9 and 10.

This year the competition was reduced to just the two days - a move by the WA Country Football League to cut the costs leagues face when competing at the prestigious championship.

Last year the SWFL spent an estimated $36,000 on sending two teams to the Landmark Championships, with the colts also competing in Mandurah.

The SWFL has won the past five division one Landmark Championship titles, while the colts last won the title in 2014.

SWFL president Barry Tate said some clubs had requested the league work towards lowering the cost of competing in the carnival.

He said charging the players a reasonable price was one way to do this.

"We feel that they (the players) get a fairly good ride," he said.

"There are not many sporting leagues who don't ask players to put their hands in their pockets.

"For $150 they get about $700 worth of value."

Tate admitted that some players who were asked to be part of the side might not play because of the fee.

"That is the downside and it might take one or two years to get used to it," he said.

"We don't think $150 was too expensive."

Tate said coaches and officials would be exempt from the cost and the league would pay for them to attend.