GREATER Western Sydney received nearly $11 million more than the AFL’s financial heavyweights in distributions from the league last year.
The Giants were handed $21,548,374 by the league in 2016, more than double the $10,553,565 handed to Adelaide.
But while the expansion clubs last year were handed over $38 million in AFL distributions, St Kilda was allocated $18,566,589 in AFL cash.
The league handed over $255 million of revenue generated by the game to clubs, with the Western Bulldogs allocated the third-highest sum — $17,610,181
One million of that figure included the prizemoney the Dogs were awarded when they won their fairytale premiership last year.
Despite the massive sum of money allocated, 11 of the AFL’s 18 clubs recorded an operating loss last year.
The figure handed out by the AFL takes into account a club’s financial circumstances, stadium deals and historical costs.
Victorian power clubs Geelong ($10,787,483) and Collingwood ($11,304,689) received the lowest payments in this state.
They also had to pay out cash to the AFL as part of a revenue tax, which raised $3.6 million from 10 wealthy clubs, distributed to the poorer eight clubs.
While the GWS figure is significant, chief executive David Matthews last week told the Herald Sun 18 teams made financial sense.
“It’s on the record we might get $20 million but every club gets $10 million or $11 million,’’ he said.
“We might get more than Gold Coast and four or five million more than a couple of Melbourne clubs who have been around for 150 million years.
“But what we talk to the AFL Commission about is are we on track, are we growing our revenue streams?
“The simple headline on the investment is the AFL has already got the investment back by creating the ninth game.
“That extra game is worth $57 million. If you split it equally with us and the Gold Coast we are already washing our face.
“And we will continue to build but it’s a generational plan. We are spending $1.5 million under the soft (football department) cap.
“What we know from the AFL Commission is we had a meeting three weeks ago and they are satisfied with our trajectory.”
“Our crowds are up, we have sold out all our sponsorships.”
The league has now scrapped its revenue tax after persistent complaints from clubs that it penalised initiative and success.
In its place is what AFL financial boss Ray Gunston calls a “more flexible and sophisticated analysis of relative structural inequalities in revenues and cost to determine club funding requirements.”
The league is adamant it will use its new TV rights riches to invest in the game for the next 20 years, rather than spend all that money over the next six seasons
2016 PAYMENTS TO CLUBS
1. GWS Giants $21,548,374
2. St Kilda $18,566,589
3. Western Bulldogs $17,610,181
4. Brisbane Lions $17,532,922
5. Gold Coast Suns $17,194,594
6. North Melbourne $15,022,303
7. Melbourne $14,799,452
8. Port Adelaide $13,206,665
9. Sydney Swans $12,488,957
10. Richmond $12,358,925
11. Essendon $11,914,715
12. West Coast Eagles $11,703,240
13. Hawthorn $11,614,683
14. Carlton $11,607,942
15. Collingwood $11,304,689
16. Geelong Cats $10,787,483
17. Fremantle Dockers $10,563,307
18. Adelaide Crows $10,553,565
*All clubs received an $8.188 million base payment and a $1.2 million bonus payment.
Extra payments included equal and disequal financial assistance, prize money, and distributions from Etihad Stadium signage rights.
