Profit lift a huge boost for women
League’s $48.5 million windfall
JEFF WHALLEY
FOOTY supremo Gillon McLachlan will spend about $22.4 million on AFLW this year compared with $16.4 milion in 2019 as he ploughs booming profits into growing the women’s game.
The news comes as the AFL confirmed its status as a money-making juggernaut, delivering a $48.5 million profit on the back of booming attendances, higher broadcast income and commercial sponsors. This is slightly down on the $50.4 million in 2018 as more money was spent on the growth of AFLW from 10 to 14 teams, boosting funding for country footy and expanding the game in the north.
The cash windfall for the elite level of the women’s game pays for everything from salaries to matchday expenses as Richmond, Gold Coast, St Kilda and West Coast all field new teams this year. It also pays for an additional round which has been pencilled into the AFLW fixture this year.
AFL chairman Richard Goyder said the men’s competition to $6 million. And the cost of paying AFL executives, including chief McLachlan and commissioners came in at $10.57 million in 2019.
This compared with $10.73 million in 2018.
Local footy is also set to be a big winner this year with the AFL budgeting $64.8 million in 2020 after spending $58.8 million on community football development in 2019.
This spend includes several fillips for country clubs, including the axing of the payment of the hated AFL affiliation fees — the levy clubs pay to be aligned with league headquarters. Under these moves umpire registration fees are also abolished.
AFL clubs also had a profitable year with their aggregate profits expected to increase by $2 million to $4 million compared with last year. Clubs also reduced debts by a collective $8.3 million in the last year.
The AFL also handed $37.7 million to the AFL Players Association to cover things ranging from operating grants to cash for the players retirement fund.