You're the AFL exec in charge of fixing community footy - how do you go about it?

[Kwality]

so the WAFC can't give it all to the WAFL, etc

What on earth can you offer to support this claim .... no doubt you can offer a comparison of say AFL funding of Vic footy with or without the Vic U18 comp.

From the WAFC 2017 Annual Report:
The WAFC would like to acknowledge the West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Football Club, the AFL and the West Australian Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries for their ongoing investment into WA football and the community benefits it delivers.

Major WAFC outcomes achieved in 2017 included:

• Completing negotiations with the State Government on a ‘Football funding Football’ agreement for the next 50 years.
• Completing the Structural Review of Football and the associated consultation process for WA Football stakeholders.
• Finalising a new 5-year WAFC Strategic Plan that sets a clear vision, goals and objectives for WA Football.
• Finalising the new Talent Development Model to be launched in 2018, with $1M in new funding support from the AFL.
• Restructuring WAFC operations in line with the new Strategy and funding.
• Successful management of Subiaco Oval in its final year of operation including hosting Adele, the largest ever concert at the venue.
• Increasing year on year participation numbers by 9% to 330,001
• Female participation growing 28% from 72,386 to 92,761.
• The performance of WA’s State teams in showcasing WA talent.
• WA’s Kickstart and All Nations teams winning their divisions at the 2017 National Diversity Championships.

 

[Kwality]

Is this $9 million dividend all that the WAFC get from the Eagles and Dockers? Do they have any control over other revenue out of the stadium ie food and beverage revenue?

When at Subi the WAFC controlled the ground & ran it a profit courtesy the AFL fixturing & the dividend from each of the AFL clubs was a separate number. Often the $s were combined at the whim of whomever was using the info.
The money from Subi no longer was not there in 2018.

Freos financials are on The Wookies summary, but the Eagles & WAFC are yet to be made public.

 

[Papa G]

When at Subi the WAFC controlled the ground & ran it a profit courtesy the AFL fixturing & the dividend from each of the AFL clubs was a separate number. Often the $s were combined at the whim of whomever was using the info.
The money from Subi no longer was not there in 2018.

Freos financials are on The Wookies summary, but the Eagles & WAFC are yet to be made public.

I'm just trying to work out what the WAFC takes from the AFL clubs in comparison to what the SANFL skims from the 2 SA Clubs. From what I can ascertain, the WAFC gets a guaranteed $10.3 million from Optus, and they also get a dividend from both West Coast and Freo. This year they got a $3.8 mill Dividend from West Coast and a $1million dividend from Freo. Is this all WAFC get from the 2 AFL clubs?

 

[ApplecrossWC]

If they want to improve the popularity of the game in these areas then they need to engage with the community. They should make it part of the cultural landscape and part of the community's weekend routine. If it becomes part of people's lives then things will improve. There are a couple of things they can do to kick off the turnaround.

Sausage sizzles at the games are low risk and high reward. It works well at Bunnings and it will work at the footy. They could maybe even offer some gourmet options such as kransky. They could even have specials each week eg. kranksy with a cheese filling

Raffles are another good money earner especially if the prizes are good like a nice meat tray from the local butcher. This would help spread the game via word of mouth when people are sharing their meat tray with friends at their next bbq. People will ask "where did you get this meat tray" and they will reply "at the footy" and so on and so on. There are a few bugs with the meat tray concept that need to be ironed out. For example, it would need to kept cool when the winner transports it home. At the moment I'm thinking that some sort of ice pack will be provided to the winner to keep it cool on the trip home but as I said, these issues can be worked out later.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Country Australia is perpetually economically depressed. Youngsters who'd play in the good old days now leave and don't come back. And those who stay won't grin and bear it if they're forced to play reserves because someone's mate or son is gifted a spot in the seniors. Zero sympathy for clubs who do that or lie to players about paying them.

The cities where most Australians live still have plenty of community clubs.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

I live in Preston and by my count there are at least five senior football teams within walking distance of my house (West Preston Lakeside, Reservoir, Preston Bullants, Fitzroy Stars and Northern Blues), a truckload of juniors, a burgeoning women's comp and plenty of Auskickers.

Undoubtedly country clubs are doing it harder. But the sport looks to be doing fine in the urban areas where the majority of the population lives.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Future of 'forgotten' Fish Creek footy club under threat

This may be the last season for the 125-year-old Fish Creek football club and locals are angry that the AFL is not doing more to protect the "heart and soul" of the district.

Read the full story
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-...oots-as-country-footy-leagues-suffer/10830802

I found this article interesting. It does seem that local district politics plays a significant part in the issues around country footy.

No problem with the stated need to provide more resources for the grass roots, but changing demographics does as well.

"The South Gippsland town, which proudly boasts a population of 201". Gee, struggling to figure out why the club's in trouble.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

"The South Gippsland town, which proudly boasts a population of 201". Gee, struggling to figure out why the club's in trouble.

Good effort that their biggest problem is finding a suitable comp I thought.

 

[Tiger71]

Delete Collingwood and Carlton and move there supporters to arabia or another dry desolate area

 

[master bate]

- Run Auskick
- Oversee junior pathways and make sure junior clubs are compliant
- Get the heck out of local adults football and let the leagues and clubs run themselves.

The game has a responsibility to attract kids and develop the next generation of players but I don't think it really has that same responsibility for adults. The more the AFL meddle the more likely it is they disrupt the natural order of how clubs have existed for years.

 

[Kwality]

LETS

I'm just trying to work out what the WAFC takes from the AFL clubs in comparison to what the SANFL skims from the 2 SA Clubs. From what I can ascertain, the WAFC gets a guaranteed $10.3 million from Optus, and they also get a dividend from both West Coast and Freo. This year they got a $3.8 mill Dividend from West Coast and a $1million dividend from Freo. Is this all WAFC get from the 2 AFL clubs?

lets wait to see what the Eagles & WAFC figures show. The $3.8 mil from the Eagles is that 2017 or 2018?

 

[Coaster2012]

https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/5905471/restructure-call-for-circular-head-footy/

This is a very important topic. The female AF playing boom is "disguising" to an extent, the male GR AF loss of market share, cf other sports' male playing nos., in Vic., WA, SA- & the Tasmanian disaster.
The raw no. of males playing AF are at record highs in Aust. in 2018. The population has increased nearly 100% since the 70's. GR AF is growing strongly in NSW, Qld., & ACT

A range of factors to consider:-

1. declining/ageing populations in many small rural/regional areas.

2. increasing attraction of computer games/internet/other sports for younger people

3. fewer juniors & adults play any competitive sport, cf. previous decades (but adult gym memberships, male & female, have exploded in last 10 years)

4. 23% of kids are now in single parent families, nearly always headed by the mother. In 1970, the figure was 5%.
This hurts AF jnr recruiting. Traditionally, it was, overwhelmingly the influence of the at-home father which encouraged a child to play AF- not the mothers, who are often very fearful of injury in AF.

5. AF has failed, generally, to recruit players (whether born in Aust., or not) from an Asian or Middle Eastern background- c.13% of the Aust. population.
The VAFA has demonstrated, however, that in the right environment (mainly school Old Boys' Clubs), players from Asian backgrounds play in good nos.).

6. In Vic., WA, SA, Tas. (not sure about NT), the AFL competition has become less popular. Since 1970, cf recent years, there has been a significant per capita decline in AFL crowds in those states. And facilities are superb now at AFL grounds (mostly centrally located, easy to attend by public transport, games over multiple times/days).

The per capita decline may be, partially, attributed to the low-scoring, congested, scrappy playing style in the AFL. Also, the phasing out of the extremely popular glamour full forwards kicking 80+ goals pa; & the loss of the VERY popular one-on-one contests ("game within a game").

AFL club tribalism has also been reduced, with so many players now swapping Clubs. If the players aren't loyal, why should fans be committed.

This reduces the "glamour/attraction" for people (if they are not wanting to attend AFL games) to play the game.

7. A general decline in people wanting to be "community-oriented". There has been a decline in church attendances, political party memberships, benevolent groups/charities (eg Rotary etc.)

8. The AFL's reputation amongst parents is being diminished by the constant reports of a sizeable minority of players using illicit, non-performance enhancing drugs.
There are now a multitude of other sports available that parents can encourage their kids to play. Once, it was only AF in winter & cricket in summer.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2019/02/20/multiple-club-presidents-slam-afl-illicit-drug-policy/

9. Adults tend to work longer hours in recent decades- & are in less secure employment (ie self-employed, often on 12 month Contracts, part time, casual, work some/most Saturdays). Capital city housing costs are now very expensive, people have much bigger debts/mortgages. Rents are also, relatively, much higher than previuos decades (both costs as a % of median incomes).

Young adults now are, often, "big spenders" & very poor savers, cf previous generations- perhaps a reason so many are working longer hours & on weekends.

These financial stresses may result in many adults not having the free time to train during the week, & play every Saturday.

Or rather it's due to immigration and a larger population exposed to more international codes through the media, so peoples interests spread wider these days. It's not because fans are suddenly turning off the footy. WA also broke it's attendance records in 2018, in fact, more people attended the footy in WA than other other state. So not sure how accurate this observation even is. Also, fans are able to view the games more easily now on their own. Back in the day, you couldn't watch a home game live, unless you were there. So people may now opt to just watch it at home.

These are the reasons for lower attendances. Not because people don't like footy anymore.

 

[Papa G]

LETS


lets wait to see what the Eagles & WAFC figures show. The $3.8 mil from the Eagles is that 2017 or 2018?

18 I think. Was leaked a week or 2 ago.

 

[Laphroaig]

Country Australia is perpetually economically depressed. Youngsters who'd play in the good old days now leave and don't come back. And those who stay won't grin and bear it if they're forced to play reserves because someone's mate or son is gifted a spot in the seniors. Zero sympathy for clubs who do that or lie to players about paying them.

The cities where most Australians live still have plenty of community clubs.

That would be among the most ignorant posts I have ever seen on this site.

Quite the achievement, well done.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

That would be among the most ignorant posts I have ever seen on this site.

Quite the achievement, well done.

What did I get wrong?

 

[jatz14]

What did I get wrong?

Quite a lot of country Australia is doing quite well. Lots of areas near me have been booming for years. However there are also lots of old country towns that are shrinking, and their footy clubs with them.

It's a mistake to look at a list of failed or struggling teams though, without also considering new or growing clubs.

Personally, wouldn't put your post in the top 1000 ignorant posts on BF



Sent from my XT1068 using Tapatalk

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

Get rid of Tac and allow community footy's next generation of stars play and create interest at community level.
Having kids having to play and participate in elite squads from such a young age to make it to AFL , is destroying kids dream of playing AFL way to early.

 

[Laphroaig]

What did I get wrong?

Leave the capital city and have a look around might work.

Here's some things to look for.

• Poor behavior from footy club officials was not invented in regional clubs. It can happen anywhere.
• A higher % of kids play sport in the country than in capital cities
• High population concentration does not = virtue
• Regional Victoria is economically depressed because we will plan to spend 50 billion dollars on an underground rail in Melbourne, another 20 billion on an airport rail link and take away the regional rail network that is required to keep regional economies alive.
• And while we are at it, we will spend a gazillion on elevating level crossings in Melbourne for the convenience of people who don't like to stop, and yet there are still crossings (and crossroads) in the regions completely unmarked. Which can be (and is) fatal.
• Because much of the the regional rail has been taken away all of the freight taking food to Melbourne and beyond goes by road
• So the roads are * ed
• But we don't spend extra money to fix the roads
• Instead, we spend another 50 billion on making sure people can drive 20 km in Melbourne at 100 Kph, while VicPol floats a proposal that the speed limit in the country should be dropped to 80Kph for 300 km journeys because the roads are not safe at 100
• The biggest problem in grassroots football is League changing based on results. Year by year remodeling of leagues so now the imperative for CLubs is to "move up". And then travel 3 or 4 hours to play in the "higher " league. At 80 Kph if the politicians have their way
• And the very worst. Kids who can play move to lower leagues for more money. Country or city.

Apart from that, you nailed it.

So try a change of the Melbourne centric attitude, or try drinking powdered milk from China on your Weeties.

Which even the Chinese won't drink.

 

[telsor]

What on earth can you offer to support this claim .... no doubt you can offer a comparison of say AFL funding of Vic footy with or without the Vic U18 comp.

From the WAFC 2017 Annual Report:
The WAFC would like to acknowledge the West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Football Club, the AFL and the West Australian Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries for their ongoing investment into WA football and the community benefits it delivers.

Major WAFC outcomes achieved in 2017 included:

• Completing negotiations with the State Government on a ‘Football funding Football’ agreement for the next 50 years.
• Completing the Structural Review of Football and the associated consultation process for WA Football stakeholders.
• Finalising a new 5-year WAFC Strategic Plan that sets a clear vision, goals and objectives for WA Football.
• Finalising the new Talent Development Model to be launched in 2018, with $1M in new funding support from the AFL.
• Restructuring WAFC operations in line with the new Strategy and funding.
• Successful management of Subiaco Oval in its final year of operation including hosting Adele, the largest ever concert at the venue.
• Increasing year on year participation numbers by 9% to 330,001
• Female participation growing 28% from 72,386 to 92,761.
• The performance of WA’s State teams in showcasing WA talent.
• WA’s Kickstart and All Nations teams winning their divisions at the 2017 National Diversity Championships.

FFS. It wasn't a claim!

Read what I wrote rather than jumping to conclusions and being ultra defensive about your blessed, oh so perfect WA for a change, it was speculation about how things COULD be set up in future to adjust to the concentration of income at the top (AFL) level. If it makes you feel better, substitute 'SA football' and 'SANFL'.

 

[Kwality]

FFS. It wasn't a claim!

Read what I wrote rather than jumping to conclusions and being ultra defensive about your blessed, oh so perfect WA for a change, it was speculation about how things COULD be set up in future to adjust to the concentration of income at the top (AFL) level. If it makes you feel better, substitute 'SA football' and 'SANFL'.

Its not as if you arent a believer in the divine right of Vic footy, but going back to your speculation I'll quote:
Something like a set percentage of AFL revenue being distributed down through the ranks (and onwards from there...so the WAFC can't give it all to the WAFL, etc).
The sheer ignorance of the suggestion beggars belief but will be accepted as fact by those who believe only what they want to believe.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

in fact, more people attended the footy in WA than other other state. So not sure how accurate this observation even is.

Got a source for that? Collingwood and Richmond both had higher average attendances than the Eagles and Melbourne, Essendon, Hawthorn, Adelaide and Geelong had higher attendances than Fremantle. Given Victoria hosts around four games per round there is just no way WA is getting more people through the gates than Victoria. Per capita WA may be in front but in terms of actual attendance, no one is near Victoria.

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/attendances

Sorry for the thread hijack but the pedant in me always wants to clarify these points.

 

[dumb]

With another Tasmanian club going under, I was interested to hear ideas on how people think the AFL can help struggling clubs across the country.

gatorade game changers. bunnings hardware bang-throughs for every goal kicked in the goal square.
provide the lower leagues with more networking opportunities and consultation so that they can learn how to suckle at the corporate teat too.

 

[Kwality]

gatorade game changers. bunnings hardware bang-throughs for every goal kicked in the goal square.
provide the lower leagues with more networking opportunities and consultation so that they can learn how to suckle at the corporate teat too.

Realise how you put value into the deal that is a sponsorship, not just a donation.

 

[Coaster2012]

Got a source for that? Collingwood and Richmond both had higher average attendances than the Eagles and Melbourne, Essendon, Hawthorn, Adelaide and Geelong had higher attendances than Fremantle. Given Victoria hosts around four games per round there is just no way WA is getting more people through the gates than Victoria. Per capita WA may be in front but in terms of actual attendance, no one is near Victoria.

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/attendances

Sorry for the thread hijack but the pedant in me always wants to clarify these points.

The posters argument was in per capita terms. So in per capita terms. WA is ahead.

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/perth-stadium/wa-crowds-biggest-in-the-afl-for-2018-ng-b88917111z