If we can get quality players earning a living within the game (coaching) - I'd argue that was a good thing in moving the game forward, regardless of whether the funding source comes from advertising or community grants.
No doubt. But the problem is that pokie money can only be used for amateur sport. Disagreeing with that, or wishing it was different, doesn't make breaking the existing rules OK.
If players are being contracted to do coaching (using pokie money) on condition that they also play for the franchise that is a clear breach of the rules.
The excuse that "everyone is doing it" doesn't wash either. Nobody should be doing it, and some franchises are doing it on a scale that goes well beyond what could maybe be over-looked as not being a significant problem.
There is a damn good reason why pokie money can't be used to pay professionals by the way. Or are we so blinkered about the apparent importance of football and "winning" that we've forgotten where that money comes from and what it's meant to be used for?
I just wish there was a decent journalist in NZ who was really prepared to get stuck into this topic.