SANFL to offer AFL licences - at a price

Jesper Fjeldstad From: Sunday Mail (SA) June 05, 2011

SANFL president John Olsen and general manager Leigh Whicker. Source: AdelaideNow
SA's most prized football assets - the Crows and Power licences - could be sold back to the clubs.

The South Australian National Football League, the license holder of the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs, is considering the radical move, which would take place before football moves to Adelaide Oval in 2015.

The Sunday Mail has learnt discussions are being held about the licence sale, at a price to be determined by an independent valuer who takes into account funds invested by the state football body.

As a guide, values of AFL licences take into account earning potential throughout 10 years - an annual profit of $2 million would suggest a licence is worth at least $20 million.

That would indicate Port Adelaide's licence is worth no more than its original acquisition price of $4 million.

Preliminary talks suggest the WA licences may be worth up to $40 million each amid talks of separating those clubs from the WA football commission.

If a sell-back of the SA licences proceeds, it will signal the greatest divorce in SA football since the state league formed the Crows and oversaw Port Adelaide's entry into the AFL.

But in a twist, the SANFL will remain a major player on the SA football landscape by holding on to its representation on the Stadium Management Authority, a joint venture between football and cricket which will be the controlling body of Adelaide Oval.

In spite of the prospect of the SANFL's holding no AFL licence, the state football organisation will be involved as a commercial partner.

It will leave the AFL clubs, should they opt to buy out their own licences, having to still deal indirectly with the SANFL through the stadium deal but having the AFL as their main contact for operating purposes.

The Sunday Mail understands the SANFL will treat its efforts regarding the Adelaide Oval development as one of its main sources of revenue and an important business interest but will be freed from any headaches associated with the Power and be left to run the state competition and grass-roots programs.

The SANFL's discussions come as the Sunday Mail learned Port Adelaide had collected only a fifth of its sponsorship revenue this year, leaving it with a massive cash-flow problem and forced to seek legal advice.

The AFL has been supportive of the South Australian AFL clubs' quest for independence, saying it would remove a "layer of bureaucracy'.

The AFL's preferred model is a member-owned one mirroring the 14 clubs on the east coast; it is expected to have discussions with the WA-based clubs over their governance structure.

An AFL official said "independence will ensure the negotiations with the SMA allow the Crows and Power to maximise their return at Adelaide Oval" with the best stadium deal.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/sanfl-to-offer-afl-licences-at-a-price/story-e6frecj3-1226069372668

Port's battered heart and soul

Dwayne Russell
June 5, 2011

NO ONE wants to be a murderer, or be responsible for a death by accident. Especially if it's someone you love. Which is why the current Port Adelaide board was working harder than ever on the Power's pulse again this week. Better to drown in a pool of your own sweat.

Nothing new for chief executive Mark Haysman and chairman Brett Duncanson. Their life has been CPR all day every day for the past two years. The immediate response to Tuesday's revelations of Port's poor financial health was not surprising. With ambulances wailing and curtains being drawn in the background, Port Adelaide, the SANFL and the AFL quickly told sticky beaks to move along. Nothing to see here. The move to Adelaide Oval will cure all.

Victorian footy fans, who have not cared to watch, should not feel ashamed. It's been harder to follow than Twin Peaks.

The SANFL, which is essentially the nine SANFL clubs, which also owns AAMI Stadium, owns Port Adelaide's AFL licence. Yet Port Adelaide has a poor stadium deal and, unlike Geelong at Skilled Stadium, fails to make money out of a 20,000 crowd. The AFL, which gave the licence to the SANFL, can jump in or withdraw it if the system is not working. Which brings us to the latest episode.

A wild guess right now as to why Port Adelaide lay bleeding on the ballroom floor might have the lead pipe being held by the Cluedo-like Colonel Mustards who demanded from day one that Port Adelaide's AFL team be a separate club from Port Adelaide's SANFL team.

Separate administration, separate marketing, separate office buildings, separate training facilities, set in separate grandstands on opposite wings, at the club's spiritual home, Alberton Oval. It looked wrong from the start, especially to those who sat in the old decaying wooden grandstand that had housed the club's soul and watched the new Alan Scott-funded shrine erected to stare down at them.

The Port Adelaide Magpies players were not even allowed to use the Power's gym. The SANFL clubs feared that the already unrivalled Magpies would become unbeatable if they had the full use of the Power's resources. No one within the SANFL, the Magpies, or the Power, wanted the Magpies to become the Power reserves team. They still don't, so don't offer that solution. Ironically the Magpies play the curtain raiser to the Power's AFL game against Carlton at AAMI Stadium today.

Some Power administrators not only embraced the separate club concept, they thrived on it. They honestly believed in good faith that the Power should be the only Port Adelaide team. The Magpies were obsolete, because the Magpies had evolved into the Power, and the remaining SANFL club was nothing more than a ball and chain. Many Power powerbrokers still believe it. Every Power coach, player and staff member during the past decade bought into that evolution theory. Ex-Magpie stars, including myself, bought in.

When the Power won its first AFL flag in 2004, the evolution was almost complete. Take the old history and move on. Put 1870 on the back of the new teal jumper and wear the old prison bar jersey during heritage rounds and Magpie fans would surely automatically leap to the Power.

So the business plan was all about wooing new fans, families and sponsors, from outside the traditional working class Port Adelaide supporter areas.

But you can't steal a spirit or a soul. Port people are amazingly loyal. Their Magpies were not just their football team, but had forever been a representation of who they were as Port Adelaide people. There was a mutual respect and a unique family equality at work between the players and the fans. It was a highly successful ecosystem.

The Power inevitably changed the balance and many fans did not like it.

Ponytailed marketing gurus will tell you that Port Adelaide does not have enough AFL fans to prosper. But two men recently proved that wrong. In 2010, the One Port Adelaide group was formed by seven-time Magpie SANFL premiership heroes George Fiacchi, and Tim Ginever.

From day one they embraced the Power, but believed in a unified Magpies-Power model, and so stayed loyal to the Magpie heart when many of us were in the billiard room picking a weapon.

Before the 2011 season began, they delivered to the Power board the names and phone numbers of thousands of disengaged Port fans who had failed to sign on as Power members. Many are still waiting to be embraced.

The AFL, due to its broadcast agreement, and South Australia as a state, needs Port Adelaide to survive. The Power desperately requires a blood transfusion, both at board level and at membership level.

Sure, Port needs to grow and breed and become a bigger family far beyond its spiritual borders. The move to Adelaide Oval should help.

But you won't cure Port Adelaide without immediate attention to its heart, and its soul.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ports-battered-heart-and-soul-20110604-1fmie.html#ixzz1ONVQn7M8

AFL's $24m boost

JAMES BRESNEHAN | June 08, 2011 07.03am

THE TT-Line's $1.5 million backing of AFL games in Hobart for the next three years will bring an estimated $24 million boost to the local economy and will be the foundation stone for a Tasmanian AFL team.

Premier Lara Giddings said at yesterday's announcement at Bellerive Oval that no money had come from State Government coffers.

Half of the $500,000 per game was raised by the local business community and councils, and the other half comes from the TT-Line's annual marketing budget for its twin Spirit of Tasmania ships.

With no money available in the State Budget for AFL games in Hobart, and threats by northern MLCs to block it if there was, Ms Giddings revealed how the North Melbourne deal almost fell over until the TT-Line came aboard.

"I decided we could not justify spending additional money from the State Budget at a time when we are asking all departments, including health and education, to find significant savings," she said.

"I am extremely pleased to have been able to reach an outcome that is not only good for local businesses and the wider Tasmanian economy, but is also a natural fit with TT-Line's core business strategy to attract visitors on board the Spirit of Tasmania 1 and II."

TT-Line's sponsorship means government backing of events such as the V8 supercars at Symmons Plains will not be affected.

"The TT-Line is a Government-owned business, it is a commercial entity that drives its own revenue and has its own marketing budget to achieve this," Ms Giddings said.

"The TT-Line is not funded by the taxpayer, nor does it provide a dividend to the Government.

"This opportunity to support the two-game deal was recognised by the TT-Line board to leverage the AFL market to increase visitor numbers to Tasmania in those quieter winter months and at a time when tourism in Australia is suffering because of the strong Australian dollar."

Using the same model as it does for Hawthorn games in Launceston, the Government expects Kangaroos games will add $4 million to the local economy each game.

"Research undertaken on the Hawthorn program shows that it injects $4 million of economic benefit per game into the Tasmanian economy and an estimated 400 jobs have been created over the 10 year life of the program," Ms Giddings said. "Their game attendance average was 15,000 in 2010, and over 30 per cent of those were from interstate and 89 per cent of those said football was their primary reason for travel.

"So the economic benefits of games are well documented."

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou was over the moon when he flew in for the announcement that gave Tasmania six live AFL games a year until at least 2014.

He was joined by North Melbourne president James Brayshaw, chief executive Eugene Arocca and players, Tasmanian Nathan Grima, and Hamish McIntosh.

"This is a great deal, it's about as good as it gets," Demetriou said.

"I compliment everyone involved in this deal."

TT-Line hopes the deal will increase its passenger volume.

"The AFL has been impressed by the Government's determination to bring AFL games to all of Tasmania and the innovation of bringing new partners to the table is a welcome one," Demetriou said.

"We are confident this will be a strong footing to build on and we intend to back North Melbourne to see it become successful.

"We feel that four games in Launceston and two extra games in Hobart is a great result."

Bob Gozzi, co-chairman of the AFL working group that drove the bid for AFL in Hobart, said: "This a red-letter day for AFL football in Hobart. It is a great moment for football in Tasmania."

Demetriou visualised thousands of North Melbourne fans on the dock at Port Melbourne ready to hop aboard the Spirit of Tasmania headed for AFL games in Hobart and a tour of the state.

Premier Lara Giddings said Roos fans were champing at the bit to get to games at Bellerive.

"I have already received emails from North Melbourne supporters wanting to combine a trip to Tasmania with seeing their games played, so they're ready to come," she said.

Demetriou said fans could look forward to the AFL scheduling quality fixtures in Hobart.

"I think North Melbourne-Hawthorn sounds like a pretty good game," he said. "It's really important that we've got two AFL games here, so we've got to support them and make them work."

Demetriou said North would be here for the long haul.

"I genuinely don't think this will be a three-year partnership," he said. "I think it will be a much longer partnership and a forerunner of greater things coming to Tasmania.

"The Premier mentioned the economic impact from what happens in Launceston. It will be greater in my view in Hobart to be quite honest and that's a great thing.

"I look forward to coming down and not being able to get a table at restaurant or get a hotel room."

Only two weeks ago Demetriou said Tasmania would be the obvious place to put the next AFL team and, without mentioning relocation, said the North Melbourne deal enhanced that.

"It brings it closer," he said. "It certainly doesn't hurt it and it can only be a positive step. I hope people get encouraged by this move.

"I think the future is bright for football in Tasmania."

As for the opposition emanating from the state's North about Hobart hosting AFL games, Demetriou said he was bemused, especially by the antics of Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten.

"I've been fascinated by the nonsensical diatribe that goes on. I don't get it," Demetriou said.

"I've never met the Mayor of Launceston, to be honest, but all I can see is this having a complementary aspect to the four games in Launceston.

"I am expecting to see more growth out of Launceston, and to see good growth in Hobart."

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said Ms Giddings had been "deliberately deceptive".

"Today's announcement by Lara Giddings that the Green-Labor Government will fund AFL in Hobart by the back door is a gross betrayal of Tasmanians," he said.

Hobart City Council Alderman Peter Sexton replied: "Will Hodgman said all along that he'd back the AFL deal if the State Government could afford the deal, and now the State Government has lived up to that promise, he's failed to live up to that statement."

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/08/236061_afl.html

Wilkie slams Hobart AFL deal

AAP | June 08, 2011 03.53pm

INDEPENDENT federal MP Andrew Wilkie says he is outraged by the way the Tasmanian government did a deal to bring AFL games to Hobart.

North Melbourne announced on Tuesday that it will host six games a season at Bellerive Oval over the next three years, reaping the club around $1 million a season.

The deal will be funded by local councils, business groups and TT Lines, the state government-owned parent company of the Spirt of Tasmania ferries.

The government had promised it would not provide further funding for AFL because of a precarious budget and its commitment to Hawthorn, who play four games a year in Launceston in a multi-million dollar deal which makes the state the club's chief sponsor.

Mr Wilkie said TT Lines funding the deal was the equivalent of the government paying for it.

"I am outraged by the way the state government has gone about this," he told reporters in Hobart on Wednesday.

"I fully support Aussie rules being played in Hobart, but I do not believe there should be more public money invested to achieve that.

"I think the way the government has gone about this, by firstly saying there would be no public money, and then effectively bringing it out of TT Lines is the height of dishonesty."

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/08/236231_todays-news.html

Brisbane reveals its financial woes

Caroline Wilson
June 11, 2011

JUST as the gloves have come off in the wages battle between the AFL and its players, another club has emerged near the top of the critical list.

On the same day the league negotiated a rescue package for Port Adelaide, AFL boss Andrew Demetriou confirmed his executive was working on another package for the Brisbane Lions.

A combination of poor administrative decisions, plus the devastating floods that struck the city during summer has created a perfect storm for the once-powerful club.

While the AFL continues to lament, along with its united 18 teams, that the hardships being suffered by clubs is falling on deaf ears where the players are concerned, it has emerged the Lions' revenue is down 25 per cent and that it is headed for its sixth successive seven-figure loss.

Brisbane's home crowds this season are down 10,000 on average per game and the club has incurred debt for the first time.

While it remains optimistic of soon turning a profit at its new venture at Springwood, the club remains in dire financial straits with three senior AFL staff, led by executive Andrew Catterall, having all being seconded to work at the club on a part-time basis.

''Port Adelaide and Brisbane are two clubs that will need help this season,'' Demetriou told The Saturday Age.

''This is not help we had budgeted for. We met Port Adelaide and SANFL today and we will be putting a recommendation to the commission for a funding package to see them through until the end of 2013.

''We're working on a financial package to help Brisbane. They've had a series of issues, including poor decisions such as Brendan Fevola, which hurt the club and its culture and its bottom line. But the floods have devastated not only the Lions but most of the big sporting organisations in Brisbane.

''Fortunately, the floods did not extend to the Gold Coast.''

Demetriou would not detail the extent of Port Adelaide's rescue package, which is understood to be close to $3 million a year for the next three years including 2011. He said Brisbane's relief would be finalised within the next two months, adding that the AFL had to remain prepared for clubs in previously commanding financial positions to fall on hard times for a combination of reasons.

Both the AFL and the Lions have agreed they are fully aware of the serious nature of the club's issues, which has prompted an almost total rebuild of Brisbane's football and administrative operations during the past nine months.

Brisbane, towards the end of its premiership era, boasted a bank balance of close to $6 million, an amount which has severely diminished due to poor management, along with some stockmarket losses.

Port Adelaide's future now appears secured, although not that of chief executive Mark Haysman.

The Power boss has fallen out with the SANFL, the state's governing football body which owns the Port Adelaide licence, and while the AFL implored Haysman not to resign several weeks ago, his position still seems far from secure and he did not attend the financial talks in Melbourne.

Clearly, the financial struggles of the clubs might prove a timely argument for the AFL as it attempts in increasingly hostile circumstances to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with its players, however, those perils are not being exaggerated.

The Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Richmond and Carlton are all receiving extra assistance from the AFL. The appalling off-field publicity afforded St Kilda over the summer caused the club to miss out on a number of lucrative sponsorship deals.

Little wonder the players are losing the public battle as the game's stakeholders continue to put up their hands for their fair share of the billion-dollar-plus broadcast rights - a push that reared its head two nights ago at the game's most revered intimate annual occasion - the Hall of Fame indiction night.

And in a unique sense of timing, recently retired Adelaide champion Mark Ricciuto added another layer to the debate when he accepted his induction into the Hall of Fame on Thursday night. Towards the end of his speech Ricciuto mentioned his latest football love - the Suns - whom he has covered extensively in his post-playing role as a commentator for Fox Sports and Triple M. Apart from the Crows, said the former Adelaide captain, the Gold Coast is the team he loves to watch.

But - and it was a big but - Ricciuto went on to talk about another football club, the club of his youth. Growing up on the Murray riverland of South Australia Ricciuto played for his local team Wakerie, a club that has gone out of existence along with its league.

Ricciuto's message to the AFL was clear. Praising the competition for its ''gutsy'' move to establish a second team in the south of Queensland, the 36-year-old warned it not to abandon the heartland. In fact, the Suns won a number of mentions on the night, with another inductee Michael Voss enthusing he could not have imagined upon leaving the Gold Coast region back in 1993 when Brisbane relocated to the Gabba that another team could have been established there within two decades. Voss imagined it would have taken twice that amount of time.

He went on to praise his once mighty but currently beleaguered football club for the role it had played in the establishment of the second southern Queensland team and said how proud he was to have played a small part.

While we are not suggesting Voss was being in any way political, it is worth noting that in their own separate ways both retired champions were making the points that while the AFL is celebrating all that is new and fresh about the game's extended frontier it must not lose sight of the clubs that paved the way.

And the players themselves continue to point out that without them there would be no game. Unfortunately they are struggling to win the public debate because they are already seen as wealthy, comfortable fortunate young men. The chosen few. While the clubs have had no trouble presenting themselves as cash-strapped and operating only to build better surroundings for their players.


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/afl/afl-news/brisbane-reveals-its-financial-woes-20110610-1fx3x.html#ixzz1OwwNXky8

Too much emphasis is put on the coach in the AFL. IT's not his fault the players at the club are rubbish. Blame the recruiters. The recruiters and players aren't as accountable as they should be.

In some cases yes, in others no. Adelaide's is the latter. Neil Craig's been there 7 seasons now, and he's gotten them close, but it's clearly not working for them now, and they need a wholesale change of both players and coach.

Suns are on fire at the moment.
:lol:

Edwards is 20.2 this year. Outstanding accuracy.

Says a lot about the rest of the team that we're kicking <50% accuracy for the season.

Looks like they've taken their foot off the gas now. FUCKING PLAY FOR PERCENTAGE, LADS!

Don't get me started on Lachie Hansen. The lad was meant to be the next big thing and then did himself a shocking injury. He just hasn't bounced back from it. We've been a bit unlucky with young lads. Swallow, Hansen, Wells, Smith and Ziebell all looked really promising and took serious injuries in their first seasons. Ziebell and Swallow bounced back well. Wells is like a fucking yo-yo and Hansen and Smith have never been the same.