D-DAY --- SA Football Commission Briefing This Afternoon

[PhilH]

The SA Football Commission will be holding a media briefing today to outline the financial model negotiated with the AFL and the SA Football Commission's strategic direction for the game in South Australia.

As accedited SANFL media I intent to go along to this briefing

Assuming nothing is embargoed AND there a chance to ask questions ... what would you like me to ask? (Serious please)

Also if information is not embargoed I will try to blog something here a little later today so stay tuned.

Regards
PhilH

[darley16]

Phil given we don't yet know the outcome, ask any question that relates to what could be perceived either directly or indirectly that will impact on the future viability of our comp and thereby our nine clubs.

[HOORAY PUNT]

I have too many quuestions but things like ensuring more not less money is pumped into the state leagues (not just SANFL) to ensure the foundations of the game are not fuurther weakend . We need an increase in salary cap to ensure the reserves get paid more like the cricket model for shield cricketers. We need to encourage kids from the country leagues to have a reason to play SANFL and not just sit back and earn easy money in those leagues .

No specific question I know buut I think you get my drift.

Good luck Phil.

[Pseudo]

What money, if any, is the AFL putting in the SANFL's direction? What is this money to be used for? What conditions, if any, are attached to the acceptance of this money?

[Booney]

Do the AFL consider the 9 SANFL clubs as vital members of the SA football landscape as they do the two Adelaide based AFL clubs?

[MatteeG]

Totally Agree with Hooray Punt. The Salary Cap for the SANFL must be increased. As it stands, blokes who are playing ressies or on the fringe of league selection are being lost every year as regional leagues offer them 10-20x the reserves payment with half the training etc. This in turn weakens the level of the SANFL. Make the SANFL the #1 league for talented blokes to ply their trade.

[Bunton]

ask is there is any consideration going into axing the Magpies so the power subsidy can be cut back by around a million per year

[JK]

Totally Agree with Hooray Punt. The Salary Cap for the SANFL must be increased. As it stands, blokes who are playing ressies or on the fringe of league selection are being lost every year as regional leagues offer them 10-20x the reserves payment with half the training etc. This in turn weakens the level of the SANFL. Make the SANFL the #1 league for talented blokes to ply their trade.

x2 .. Excellent post HP!!

[Aerie]

Totally Agree with Hooray Punt. The Salary Cap for the SANFL must be increased. As it stands, blokes who are playing ressies or on the fringe of league selection are being lost every year as regional leagues offer them 10-20x the reserves payment with half the training etc. This in turn weakens the level of the SANFL. Make the SANFL the #1 league for talented blokes to ply their trade.

x2 .. Excellent post HP!!

Also an increase would help attract/keep those players just on the cusp of AFL level from leaving the SANFL should a national reserves competition be implemented in the future. Obviously an increase in salary cap will only work if the 9 SANFL clubs can afford it.

[PhilH]

OK initial thoughts with more to come later from the briefing;

Either its a good story, or good spin or the devil will be in the detail later but basically the AFL is bailing out SA football until the end of 2013 with no major conditions attached.

[Voice]

OK initial thoughts with more to come later from the briefing;

Either its a good story, or good spin or the devil will be in the detail later but basically the AFL is bailing out SA football until the end of 2013 with no major conditions attached.

Except $6m of the $9m is a loan.

[Macca19]

Port are to recieve $9 million over three years - $1 million per year directly, then $2 million per year which is as a loan from the AFL to the SA commission which is then onsent to Port Adelaide

The SA commission are able to draw $1.5 million per year from the AFL of which $1 million of that will be going to Adelaide, who will recieve in total $3 million over 3 years.

[PhilH]

Points in brief

- Port v Melbourne game in Rd 24 is a goer if they can work through some logistical matters. It will be ONLY AFL game at Adelaide Oval as it will become a construction site in 2012.

- Financially its a bit of a spaghetti situation but AFL is covering the tab
-AFL a $1m per year grant to PAFC for 2011,12,13
- AFL a LOAN to SAFC (South Aust Football Commission) of $2m per year to be provided as grants to the PAFC for 2011,12,13.
- AFL a facility (different to a loan) to SAFC to draw up to $1.5m per year for 3 years (2011,12 & 13)

- No repayment is required to the AFL prior to move the Adelaide Oval.

- There will be a review of SA football governence in 2012 involving SAFC. AFL, AFC & PAFC re how to best optimise the licences for South Australian Football.

- Expected increase in SA Development Fund grants as a result of new TV broadcast. To be announced once players deal is finalised.

- Reserves, SANFL Salary Cap have not been part of any discussions.

[PhilH]

Yes up to 3.5m per year loaned to SA football from AFL... so at the end of 2013 .... up to $10.5 to pay back .... and with licences up for review will probably be part of any figure if licences released

I guess being good news I came with thought that the integrity of the SANFL comp would be hampered by this discussion....
ie name chance, AFL reserves, Salary Cap changes
so far .. emphasise so far ... appears to not be the case.

But yes there will be a financial cost for SA footy to pay after the transition.

Other notes

- two new board appointees to PAFC board ... no annoucned changes to staff.
John Auld and Richard Ryan.
-

[PhilH]

Also stated that there will be an increase in game development funding from the AFL to SA due to TV rights with exact amount announced once players deal is sorted.

John Olson referred to this as a reinvestment in the game when someone asked him re bailout.

No real mention of impact on SANFL clubs bar the summary talking about the big SA Football picture.

Power asked re Reserves team in SANFL, they said was not high on their list of priorities currently.

And that pretty much covers it ..... I expected a little bit more but at least eveyone knows what we are doing for the next couple of years and can plan accordingly.

[CENTURION]

Question. If, or when, after the 3 years is up & the $9million has been handed over, what happens then if it STILL isn't enough (as has been intimated already)?

[nickname]

The fact that the SANFL/SAFC has to pay most of the money back also suggests a lesser likelihood that the AFL would be seeking to extract their pound of flesh for this package in some other way. We were in a fairly vulnerable position and from what's come out so far, I don't think we could have hoped to have done any better.

[sjt]

Also stated that there will be an increase in game development funding from the AFL to SA due to TV rights with exact amount announced once players deal is sorted.

John Olson referred to this as a reinvestment in the game when someone asked him re bailout.

No real mention of impact on SANFL clubs bar the summary talking about the big SA Football picture.

Power asked re Reserves team in SANFL, they said was not high on their list of priorities currently.And that pretty much covers it ..... I expected a little bit more but at least eveyone knows what we are doing for the next couple of years and can plan accordingly.

Thanks Phil. I'm sure Rucci's spin on the reserves will be selectively quoted, "Power .. Reserves team in SANFL, they said .. high on their list of priorities currently". If he continues his form of selectively quoting.

[Big Phil]

From Localfootysa:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl ... 6084929884

[Big Phil]

From the SANFL:

SA FOOTBALL COMMISSION NEGOTIATES WAY FORWARD FOR SA FOOTBALL

The SA Football Commission has today announced a range of initiatives negotiated with the AFL to strengthen the position of South Australian football over the next three years.

SA Football Commission Chairman John Olsen said the successful negotiations meant that both South Australian AFL clubs would benefit from improved financial positions as football prepares for the transition to a redeveloped Adelaide Oval.

“The SA Football Commission has been working with both clubs for some time to improve their respective financial positions. It was with a clear vision in mind for the future of South Australian football that we entered discussions with the AFL,” Mr Olsen said.

“The Commission has received the overwhelming endorsement of all the SANFL clubs on its negotiations and the financial outcomes.

“We are pleased the AFL has backed the SA Football Commission’s strategic direction by underpinning the financial position of both clubs with an agreement that is far more advantageous to football than what could have been achieved from traditional commercial markets.”



The details of the agreement are:

- A grant to the Port Adelaide Football Club from the AFL of $1 million for each of the three years (2011, 2012 and 2013)

- A loan to the SA Football Commission from the AFL of $2 million per year for each of the three years (2011, 2012 and 2013) to be provided as grants to the Port Adelaide Football Club, representing a total grant to the club of $9 million over three years

- The AFL to provide a facility for the SA Football Commission to draw up to $1.5 million per year for three years (2011, 2012 and 2013)

- The SA Football Commission will provide a financial package valued at $1 million per year to the Adelaide Football Club over three years (2012, 2013 and 2014), representing a total contribution to the Crows of $3 million.


The agreement is unconditional, with no repayments required prior to a move to a redeveloped Adelaide Oval.

The SA Football Commission has, in its negotiations with the AFL, highlighted the need to invest further in South Australia to grow the game at all levels.

The AFL has indicated that the recent broadcast rights agreement will lead to an increase in dividends to all AFL clubs and an increase in its investment in Game Development, of which South Australia will be a beneficiary.

In addition to the commercial agreement, the SA Football Commission is delighted that the AFL has endorsed its initiative, taken some weeks ago, to host the final AFL minor round match of the season at Adelaide Oval.

The Commission is currently in discussion with various stakeholders with regard to the detail of the Round 24 clash between Port Adelaide and Melbourne.

“This match will take on a major significance as a one-off opportunity for football fans to experience live AFL at Adelaide Oval before South Australian football moves to its new home in the city,” Mr Olsen said.

“South Australian football is facing one of the most significant periods in its history and we are all united behind a common commitment to a strong and prosperous future for the game in SA.”

As part of its strategic direction for South Australian football in the transition to a redeveloped Adelaide Oval, the Commission will also be formally reviewing the structure of the two AFL licences.

This will be undertaken with the AFL and the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs with a timeline of June 30, 2012, for a resolution. Any new licence structures would take effect at the conclusion of a successful transition to Adelaide Oval.