SANFL 2025

[MW]

Unless West are somehow bailed out not just financially, but also operationally, and a program put in place to upgrade the facilities, and give them access to more talent, then the doors will shut in the next couple of years.

[dedja]

Glenelg are by no means rich, there still is some debt when in reality the proceeds of the footy park sale should have removed that … that’s also after the Council forgave the debt to them.

Sturt, like Glenelg, were in dire straights not that long ago, but both have been able to manage by generating a sustainable cash flow.

As stated many times before, this is West’s real issue, they are not generating anywhere near enough revenue to being close to sustainable. To make matters worse, they effectively dont have any assets.

Once finances are stabilised, then other aspects follow, and subsequent on field success then brings the benefits of players actually wanting to go to the club.

Unfortunately, West doesn't have any of this, and unless a sustainable revenue model can be found, no amount of assistance will save them and shutting it down will be the only option.

South seem to fly under the radar here, whilst not at West’s level of despair, they are not travelling well at all financially, but there is much more opportunity for them to turn things around, when compared to West.

With regards to it being harder now due to the AFL than ever before, it's been hard ever since 1991 when the Crows were born. Glenelg were absolutely decimated back then, not only losing lots of players but the coach and support staff.

Port’s entry in 1997 just made things worse, but that was nearly 30 years ago now, so SANFL clubs have had a long time to try to live with the new world.

As mentioned before, Port and the Crows can GTFO, but if West fold then the SANFL would find it difficult to have relevance with only 7 teams, so solving West’s problems is critical.

[MW]

If West closing its doors mattered to the SANFL then they would have been supported by the SANFL by now.
I think the league would not care if they fold.

[dedja]

If West closing its doors mattered to the SANFL then they would have been supported by the SANFL by now.
I think the league would not care if they fold.

What do you want the SANFL to do?

[MW]

If West closing its doors mattered to the SANFL then they would have been supported by the SANFL by now.
I think the league would not care if they fold.

What do you want the SANFL to do?

No idea, but they are letting them die a slow death

[Booney]

If West closing its doors mattered to the SANFL then they would have been supported by the SANFL by now.
I think the league would not care if they fold.

What do you want the SANFL to do?

No idea, but they are letting them die a slow death

The SANFL have run them for quite some time either directly or indirectly, I'm not sure they have the answers to fix it though.

Relocation? I had heard Mt Barker was on the cards, couldn't hurt given the population growth up there.

[MW]

Yeah I have heard Mt Barker also, think its the only option to be honest.

[wenchbarwer]

South East West Adelaide

[dedja]

Yeah I have heard Mt Barker also, think its the only option to be honest.

Sturt’s zone isn’t it?

[MW]

Who knows but if they want "West" to survive, something will need to give.
The only issue relocating to Mt Barker would be having the kids travel up there all the time. Might need to be some sort of hybrid Richmond-Mt Barker set up.

[wenchbarwer]

Yeah I have heard Mt Barker also, think its the only option to be honest.

Sturt’s zone isn’t it?

Yep

[am Bays]

Who knows but if they want "West" to survive, something will need to give.
The only issue relocating to Mt Barker would be having the kids travel up there all the time. Might need to be some sort of hybrid Richmond-Mt Barker set up.

Who knows if that is going to happen, however, you'd think if West were going to relocate up to Mount Barker, inclusive of license premises, it would involve a cash injection via the sale of WAFC land at Richmond a la the Footy Park model.

Purely my opinion, and I have demonstrated on here numerous times over the last 20 odd years I have NFI what is going to happen

[MW]

What would the cash injection be needed for if Mt Barker facilities are already at a level to host AFL games?

[am Bays]

What would the cash injection be needed for if Mt Barker facilities are already at a level to host AFL games?

inclusive of license premises,

You're going to need an income stream as others have pointed out (there's opportunity out there for the eastern Mt B developments), pay off debts and there's a lot of $$$ spent each time to make it AFL ready the rooms are pretty basic and there's no S&C facility.

[mots02]

Yeah I have heard Mt Barker also, think its the only option to be honest.

Given the sanfl zones are governed by the boundaries commission and work within some % tolerances to make all sanfl zones ‘equal’ how would giving westies the growing Mt barker area help them? Sturt lost the river Murray league in the last boundaries review predominately due to the mt barker area growth. It’s give and take,

Why would the mt barker area embrace and support westies? Are they suddenly going to start drawing 3000 fans to a game? I doubt it.

Mt Barker is not the solution

[Hazydog]

From an emotional perspective the WAFC would be known as the Mt Barker Bloods and play in red and black which would hopefully be enough to retain a percentage of the membership base and supporters along with attracting the younger Mt B locals who don’t currently have an SANFL association . (That’s without considering finances and logistics as to the viability and merely just answering the “what’s in it for the locals” question)

[Backman]

Suggestions to help struggling clubs
1. A creative SANFL funded marketing campaign targeting schools and kids plus sponsors, with goals set re attendances and sponsorship
2. Interest free loan to pay out existing debt, with a condition being SANFL oversight of all expenditure
The aim of point 2 is to even up recruiting opportunity across the clubs, if the clubs can show they have sufficient cash flow
The above ideas would cost SANFL, and I have no idea of the financial position of the SANFL
Also in MSD Adelaide & Port should be restricted to recruiting from SANFL clubs, with players drafted to train with AFL clubs but play with SANFL clubs unless selected in AFL teams (for the remainder of the year) .
Yes, may not be even across AFL clubs, but a very minor issue if MSD is used to replace injured players

[dedja]

Suggestions to help struggling clubs
1. A creative SANFL funded marketing campaign targeting schools and kids plus sponsors, with goals set re attendances and sponsorship
2. Interest free loan to pay out existing debt, with a condition being SANFL oversight of all expenditure
The aim of point 2 is to even up recruiting opportunity across the clubs, if the clubs can show they have sufficient cash flow
The above ideas would cost SANFL, and I have no idea of the financial position of the SANFL
Also in MSD Adelaide & Port should be restricted to recruiting from SANFL clubs, with players drafted to train with AFL clubs but play with SANFL clubs unless selected in AFL teams (for the remainder of the year) .
Yes, may not be even across AFL clubs, but a very minor issue if MSD is used to replace injured players

The 8 clubs have already received $2M each from Footy Park sale proceeds to pay off debt, and the SANFL already reviews expenditure.

West don’t have any assets, but have large yearly operational deficits, so ‘paying off their debt’ or loans wouldn't make sense for them.*

Correction, West still own their clubrooms but effectively transferred a bank loan to the Wolfpack. I don’t know how much of that loan has been paid off.

[dedja]

Yeah I have heard Mt Barker also, think its the only option to be honest.

Given the sanfl zones are governed by the boundaries commission and work within some % tolerances to make all sanfl zones ‘equal’ how would giving westies the growing Mt barker area help them? Sturt lost the river Murray league in the last boundaries review predominately due to the mt barker area growth. It’s give and take,

Why would the mt barker area embrace and support westies? Are they suddenly going to start drawing 3000 fans to a game? I doubt it.

Mt Barker is not the solution

100%.

Sturt worked their arses off to turn around a dire financial situation to now having a sustainable future. That should be rewarded, not penalised.

[Dutchy]

As stated many times before, this is West’s real issue, they are not generating anywhere near enough revenue to being close to sustainable. To make matters worse, they effectively dont have any assets.

.

This is incorrect, they are the only club I know that owns their clubrooms.