Concerning Times in the SANFL?

[smac]

And as for boundaries, no one can compete with the time when the Port/Centrals boundary was the train line alongside Elizabeth Oval!

Yeah, Port Adelaide was only dominant for decades because of the high quality kids coming out of the DSTO and RAAF base....

Can't see where that was suggested, very creative of you to come to such a conclusion.

[EAGLES]

I believe my beloved eagles have lost their tab licence due to poor turn over

[Mickyj]

I believe my beloved eagles have lost their tab licence due to poor turn over

yep they did

[Zulu]

I can understand Port and Sturt doing it tough last year. I believe both of those clubs borrowed heavily in order to set up their gaming venues/pubs, so with interest rates higher during last financial year their costs were always going to be up. Therefore, if interest rates continue their downward trend, this should give both clubs the opportunity to improve their results presuming they can keep their revenue levels up.

I am surprised that clubs like South and Norwood produced poor financial results (if they indeed have),as i would have thought their gaming venues would have performed strongly last year, and i wouldn't think they would have debt to the same levels as Port and Sturt. Does anyone know the general debt levels of all the clubs?

[sjt]

Probably, the Bonds, Wanganeen, Carter, Hodges to name a few may have helped. I think they were all a torpedo punt from Elizabeth Oval.

[smac]

I reckon our development system at the time would have seen half of those players lost to SANFL/AFL if they were Centrals players!

[Sojourner]

Very much enjoyed reading that article!

The problem that is comming to a head is that the SANFL and a number of its supporters are unable to embrace change and as a result the clubs are starting to suffer and as pointed out in the article face closure as a result. Many people thought that there was no way that Ansett would have ever gone broke and were proven wrong in dramatic style. If people think that SANFL clubs are garanteed to alway be there in a similar sense they are in for a massive dissapointment.

Perhaps what compounds the problem is that the clubs in question are the traditionally popular clubs that have not had to ever change and adapt as the others have.

Taking a guess, here is my thoughts on the 9 clubs,

South may not have a balance sheet that looks great at the moment, yet that is due to the sheer amount of investment that is being made into the Home Ground, 3Million dollars worth so far and more to come.

Central Districts - where else do you drive in Adelaide and see the local SANFL club colours plastered over roundabouts! Very popular club in the area and again unlikely to be affected by the above problems.

North - were in major problems yet as a result did something about it and have set their club up financially, probably the most likely club to expand to an additional venue to build on what they have already created.

Sturt It cant be cheap to constantly put up the fencing and take it down from Unley Oval each match. Maybe their just is not a lot that the club can do about it but for the club to move ahead financially the club needs to have this resolved be it by having a permanent fence built or relocating to another venue that they can exersize some level of control over. Just like Norwood, they are right in the inner suburbs where statistically pokies dont generate much revenue. The Castle Tavern is great but also on a lease which genearates good revenue for the lease owners yet not so substantial for the club.

Norwood As above, lacking strong revenue from Pokies, the Nor East being "run" by the Highlander Hotel group after a massive legal fight which has enabled the Highlander group to have first scoop off the profits as well as payment of running costs from the Nor East. The club is allocated to Tea Tree Gully which has little local recognition of Norwood as its local club. My impression is that the Modbury-TTG area is better connected to the North Adelaide Football Club through its venture in the Dragons club on Grand Junction Road. If Norwood cant connect with the area then they could well be one of the clubs facing collapse and I can assure you that is the last thing that I want to see happen to Norwood.

Glenelg Massive improvements in venue, yet still a massive amount of competition from other venues in the area. The board are working overtime to get the lights project up and running and it wouldent seem unreasonable to suggest that playing matches at the Bay on a Friday night under lights would put a massive amount of additional revenue into the club by increased attendences! I know that the SANFL did not help the NAFC in the OP, yet if they are serious about the integrity of the SANFL competition, this is a project they should probably assist with as an investment into SANFL football in general.

Port Struggling to find revenue streams after the Power funding arrangement, have a good thing going with the Prince of Wales hotel on Port Rd, yet like Sturt at the Castle it is still only a lease arrangment as opposed to the club owning it meaning that the lease owners get first go of the profits and the lease can be cut when it comes up for renewel leaving the club in instability. Port need their own venue yet need the backing of the SANFL to underwrite it and clearly that wont be permitted to happen.

Eagles Have a major problem that isnt their fault in that the traditional people that lived in their area are being replaced by people immigrating from Asia & the Middle East who have no knowlege or interest in Aussie Rules Football. The State Goverment has closed various schools in the area because of the move to private schooling in the area. West Adelaide have had various media articles about what they are doing to connect with the local Sudanese population, yet I havent heard a lot from WWT. I get the feeling that if WWT cant connect with the new residents in the area they are in for problems. I also feel that the SANFL needs to take this on as a problem that affects the SANFL in general and throw some resources into promoting the SANFL in the area and to do more to expose new residents of Australia to the SANFL.

West I am fairly certain that the majority of WAFC members are not aware of how close to the bone the club is running at the moment. Major problems are being caused by the club not being on an arterial road. The club needs things like the previously talked about lights project and also additional venues in the area or in the Riverland. Drought issues are seriously affecting the clubs ability to recruit. I get the feeling that the club is pinning its hopes on Collins getting some success out of the side and are hoping for a resurgance of interest in the club to get some of the other projects then up and running.

[drebin]

North - were in major problems yet as a result did something about it and have set their club up financially, probably the most likely club to expand to an additional venue to build on what they have already created.

I am constantly suprised how many people outside North don't realise that we operate 2 licensed venues both with 40 poker machines??? Grand North - at the old Greenacres FC site and also the Northern Tavern.

As for our financial state - whilst still owing just over 2 million for both venues, we have a very, very solid income as a result of both venues and if you compare us to say Sturt who also operate 2 venues - we are poles apart re income.

Look out for some major redevelopment to come at Prospect Oval both re players and members facilities upgrades. Eventually you have to start spending money as the ATO can only keep considering you as a "not for profit community organsiation" re tax concessions for so long given our income levels if you don't spend it. The Finance Director at North does a very good job in lowering the profit each year given the huge income so it doesn't look too out of control.

[Sojourner]

I am constantly suprised how many people outside North don't realise that we operate 2 licensed venues both with 40 poker machines??? Grand North - at the old Greenacres FC site and also the Northern Tavern.

Very much well aware of that fact Drebin, often enjoy calling into the old Dragons club for dinner!

I have heard some discussion re the Windmill Hotel and what might happen when the current owners lease ends that sounds interesting, yet we will wait and see no doubt!

[drebin]

I am constantly suprised how many people outside North don't realise that we operate 2 licensed venues both with 40 poker machines??? Grand North - at the old Greenacres FC site and also the Northern Tavern.

Very much well aware of that fact Drebin, often enjoy calling into the old Dragons club for dinner!

I have heard some discussion re the Windmill Hotel and what might happen when the current owners lease ends that sounds interesting, yet we will wait and see no doubt!

Have heard that but we have looked at other venues in recent years but not viable but the Windmill could be a likely prospect (pardon the pun!)

[darley16]

Sojourner, $3.0ml and more to come? What, more debt on what is already there or additional improvements to come therefore to incorporate more debt? My understanding that the $3.6ml in the Balance Sheet was all our debt on the completed reno's and no more debt will be taken on by the club as per current bankers instructions.

[Wedgie]

The Eagles made a loss of $350k so it looks like the overall loss of 7 of the 9 teams is going to be staggering to say the least, concerning times indeed.

[Barto]

I'm stunned that so many clubs have made large losses.

The pokies have far from been the saviour of the majority of clubs and I'll never forgive the government of the day for opening up poker machine operation to every tom dick and harry. This revenue stream should have been used to solidify the financial future of sporting and community clubs.

[PhilH]

Darley16,
Does this sound like the coming to fruition of a "sour grapes" PM we had a few months ago?

[darley16]

Not really Phil, in South's case we knew the debt was coming and was budgetted for and payments being met with the financial position sound given the inclusion of the fully drawn debt. Surely you have moved on from sour grapes.

[dash61]

West I am fairly certain that the majority of WAFC members are not aware of how close to the bone the club is running at the moment. Major problems are being caused by the club not being on an arterial road. The club needs things like the previously talked about lights project and also additional venues in the area or in the Riverland. Drought issues are seriously affecting the clubs ability to recruit. I get the feeling that the club is pinning its hopes on Collins getting some success out of the side and are hoping for a resurgance of interest in the club to get some of the other projects then up and running.

Whoever is giving you mail is slightly wrong, our pokie turnover has increased slighty. Find out about the SANFL catering service we switched too, new scoreboard, renovations, major rewire, etc etc, your info is wrong, west are not happy but no the way you describe it, 2 others are close to the bone

Point 3, most clubs didnt get a return fro AFL kids and that hurt the end result, so dont worry about us too much.

We need to improve onfield as we have been a disgrace

[Dutchy]

South may not have a balance sheet that looks great at the moment, yet that is due to the sheer amount of investment that is being made into the Home Ground, 3Million dollars worth so far and more to come.

Why wouldnt the balance sheet be looking good if the $3m has been invested into the ground? I would have though it would be the opposite and made the Balance Sheet better? If not why are they doing it?

[blueandwhite]

My mail is that a licensed premises on Port Rd will soon be taken over by a league club.