That article sums up the issue being faced pretty well.
More and more demands on senior medical staff means less capacity for private practice and the associated loss of income but now the clubs are wanting to cut costs and wages which brings the tipping point forward faster.
The clubs are generally taking the approach that they can privately source many services on an as needed basis but I think that is fraught with danger in terms of the quality and speed of care.
Australian sports medicos are world renowned and have plenty of opportunities in highly paid international roles. If the AFL isn't careful it will suffer a huge talent drain from the industry, something that is already beginning.
Doubt it's the clubs wanting to cut costs on medico wages TBR. Flogs in suits at AFLHQ have butchered the soft cap and clubs have virtually no choice bar to reduce their expenditure by about 3 or 4 mill per year.
By the report in that article the Moggies whole medical set up looks to have had the *smile* kicked out of it all in one hit. Doesn't matter what the sporting code is. If you want to have a premium elite competition you need to have an elite sports medicine set up to properly look after all the athletes.
AFL honchos grubbing around in the dirt trying to scrounge up a few shiny shekels by making the clubs run their medical, fitness n rehab sectors like the old school bush footy clubs of fifty years ago. Give the trainers a wet towel n a can of magic spray n the players can hobble around as best they can, it'll toughen them up a bit.