AwFuL is not struggling to foot the bill at the moment, but the investment has been enormous and hasn't provided much in return.
The Age estimated St Kilda received $156 million across the decade 2012-21, the most of any Victorian club and $17 million more than the next (Western Bulldogs), with Brisbane ($160 million), Gold Coast ($198 million) and GWS ($203 million) getting the most help over that period.
THE AFL 2023 FUNDING LADDER
1. Gold Coast ($25 million)
2. GWS Giants ($25 million)
3. Brisbane Lions ($18-19 million)
4. North Melbourne ($18-19 million)
5. St Kilda ($18-19 million)
6. Melbourne ($16 million)
7. Western Bulldogs ($16 million)
8. Port Adelaide ($16 million)
9. Sydney Swans ($16 million)
10. Fremantle ($11.5-12.5 million)
11. Carlton ($11.5-12.5 million)
12. Adelaide Crows ($11.5-12.5 million)
13. Geelong ($11.5-12.5 million)
14. Essendon ($11-11.5 million)
=15. Richmond ($10.5-11 million)
=15. Hawthorn ($10.5-11 million)
=15. Collingwood ($10.5-11 million)
=15. West Coast ($10.5-11 million)
Base amount of $10.5 to $11 million included
All figures are approximate which is why some ties, ie between the Suns and Giants on $25 million, are broken
Where your club sits on AFL’s $276m ladder as league’s wealth divide explained
www.foxsports.com.au
That doesn't include the millions they've invested on junior development across Queensland and NSW for marginal gains. I have no doubt you'll ignore this inconvenient fact because it doesn't suit your anti-BRL agenda.
The most important takeaway from this is the ARLC will not provide a variable funding scheme to expansion clubs in Adelaide and Perth.