2020 SANFL ANNUAL REPORT 1 2020 SANFL HIGHLIGHTS First State League in the nation to commence In a year of the the season with more than 75,000 fans COVID-19 pandemic attending the 14 minor rounds Increase in Channel 7 First time the Magarey Medal broadcast market count is held as a ‘virtual’ share for SANFL broadcast production, with 8% Statewide Super League 28,000 viewers on 7mate First junior competition in Australia to commence the season in 2020, with 12,332 participants $16.2m Craig Fleer - first SA Field Allocated to 48 football facility projects Umpire to officiate in an (total value of $57.4m) as a result of Grassroots Funding AFL Grand Final 2 Woodville West North Adelaide wins Torrens wins it’s its first SANFL Statewide fourth SANFL League Super Women’s League Premiership Premiership Successfully completed major redevelopment of the Mosaic Hotel at 5,700 West Lakes NAB AFL Auskick registrations, despite only recommencing in July Winner Governor’s Multicultural Award for outstanding 2019 multicultural programs 24% of 2020 AFL Draft picks from SANFL 41,230 Community Football club participants across SA COMMUNITY FOOTBALL 3 CHAIRMAN’S REPORTW A season like no other Key achievements 2020 was a year in football we will certainly never forget, Headlining our achievements following a three-month with the significant impact of the Covid-19 pandemic felt at postponement of the 2020 season was SANFL’s delivery of every level of our game. a very competitive 14-game home and away men’s State League season. Despite COVID restrictions significantly There were no bigger and more concerning challenges at impacting on our ability to host crowds, more than 75,000 any time throughout SANFL’s proud 143-year history. fans attended men’s State League games across the minor rounds. On March 16, the football season was postponed for the first time since World War II, and the consequences of this Thanks to the combined efforts of the State Government, far reaching. SA Health and SAPOL, the 2020 SANFL Statewide Super League Grand Final was played at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, Approximately 80 per cent of SANFL’s workforce were October 18 before a crowd of 17,000 people. It was a timely subsequently either stood down or made redundant reminder during the pandemic of the privilege of watching following this, with the remaining 20 per cent retained but live football – something we took for granted until this year on reduced wages. The League’s revenue from Adelaide – and reinforced just how highly we, as a society, value and Oval was reduced by more than 85 per cent and SANFL cherish our great game. Club incomes also hit hard. Despite the unprecedented and most challenging circumstances of the 2020 football season, 80% of SANFL’s SANFL’s other achievements and highlights included: workforce was stood Overall growth in SANFL Club membership numbers down during 2020 on the previous year – a tremendous effort and great credit to the SANFL Clubs and a reflection of the loyalty of the SANFL supporter base. The focus for SANFL, therefore, moved from one of ongoing debt reduction and growth of the game to one of survival, Eight per cent increase in Channel 7 broadcast responsible governance and commitment to ensuring the market share – an excellent result given neither Port League and the eight SANFL Clubs could get through 2020 Adelaide nor Adelaide were able to field teams in the and come out at the other end, and be successful. competition. The SANFL Finals Series saw an average total reach of 111,330 viewers, compared with 66,000 Collectively, the League and its clubs rose to that challenge, in 2019. working collectively and making many sacrifices to ensure their future sustainability. SANFL led the way for Woodville West Torrens Football Club claimed its sport in South Australia in providing insight to SA Health, fourth Premiership with a 39-point victory over North SAPOL and the State Government to ensure football could Adelaide. recommence safely in a COVID environment. SANFL’s Return to Play protocols and directions also were shared across The 2020 Magarey Medal, broadcast as a ‘virtual’ Australian Football and other sports nationally. production by Channel 7, was won by North Adelaide’s Campbell Combe and attracted 28,000 viewers on 7mate which is the best result since the broadcast commenced in 2016. A full season (10 minor rounds and a three-week finals series) of the 2020 SANFL Statewide Super Women’s League was completed, despite the season being interrupted after four rounds in March due to COVID. 4 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT North Adelaide won its first SANFL Women’s Premiership, defeating reigning dual Premiers South Financial Overview Adelaide by 7 points. The SANFLW Best and Fairest While SANFL declared a statutory loss of $1.37m, this is Medal was awarded to joint winners West Adelaide’s not reflective of SANFL’s underlying operating performance Rachelle Martin and North Adelaide’s Anne Hatchard. as it includes a number of large non-cash balance sheet adjustments as outlined in the financial overview. SANFL The National Pharmacies SANFL Juniors season was measures its financial performance based on its “cash postponed until June but then provided over 12,300 earnings” which in 2020 were negative $2.92m. The cash young players with an opportunity to enjoy the game loss is mainly attributable to the impact of COVID on that many other children throughout the nation SANFL’s operations and in particular the net stadium return missed out on. Despite the disruption, junior female received from Adelaide Oval. participation increased again. After paying a 50% share of the operating costs to keep More than 45,000 community club participants were Adelaide Oval open for fewer events, the SANFL stadium recorded in 2020 – down from 50,000 but a pleasing return after expenses was more than $8m below budget. result under the circumstances. For SANFL to limit its cash loss to less than $3m, it had to implement significant cost reduction measures across its More than half of SANFL’s Affiliated Leagues delivered business. This included standing down or making redundant football seasons. SANFL also introduced a Limestone 55 of its 75 staff for much of the year with those staff Coast Football League, thereby allowing approximately retained taking a 20% pay reduction. The League also made 300 players from three Leagues in the State’s south the decision to reduce game development grants paid to east region an opportunity to play football. State League clubs by $2.7m. Auskick registrations reached more than 5,700, while the SANFL Schools Competition included almost 140 teams. SANFL was a proud winner of a Governor’s Multicultural Award in recognition of its contribution to multiculturalism, inclusion and social harmony through its multicultural football programs from 2019. SANFL’s outstanding results in the 2020 AFL Draft reflect the League’s continued reputation for developing elite and resilient young footballers and underpinned the strength and reputation of our State League competition as the best in the nation. Fourteen players were selected from 59 Draft picks, representing 24 per cent of the Draft, and an additional seven players were selected in the Rookie Draft. The SANFL Statewide Super League returns to suburban venues in Round 3 with a maximum crowd of 1,000 people. Pictured here at ACH Group Stadium: spectators, required to be socially distanced due to COVID protocols, watch Glenelg v North Adelaide 5 CHAIRMAN’S REPORTEW Our partners Governance In March 2020, outgoing Chair of the Commission John SANFL’s major commercial partners continued their Olsen AO was fittingly awarded the honour of League Life tremendous support for SANFL, despite their own Membership for his outstanding contribution and service significant challenges in 2020. We particularly acknowledge to our game in South Australia. I would personally like to our State League naming rights partner, Statewide Super thank John for his commitment and contribution to our and Major Partner West End who have continued to be by great game over his longstanding tenure as Chair of the our side throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Commission and his legacy will be the very strong position in which he leaves SANFL. Mosaic Hotel Tom Zorich, first elected to the Commission in 2011, The major redevelopment of the former Checkside returned to serve on the Commission for a further three Tavern at West Lakes commenced in January 2020, with years, while former appointed member Louise Small also construction completed in late August, allowing SANFL was elected to the Commission for a three-year term. to officially re-launch the venue under its new guise, Mosaic Hotel, in mid-September. The COVID-19 pandemic The SA Football Commission also welcomed two new and stringent social distancing regulations has had a appointed members in 2020, Janet Finlay, an experienced substantive impact on the hospitality sector. Despite business advisor and independent professional director, and this, the team at the Mosaic Hotel rose to the challenge, Nicole Haack, leading communications adviser and former ensuring the hotel built a strong reputation in the first journalist and radio presenter. Janet and Nicole bring a new month of operations and is positioned to provide a long- perspective on leadership and strategic thinking towards term revenue stream for the SANFL. best-practice governance which ultimately will offer value to the Commission and assist SANFL’s diverse operations Adelaide Oval Hotel and future growth. Thank you to all my fellow colleagues on the Commission SANFL partnered with SACA through the Adelaide Oval for your support in my first year of service on the Stadium Management Authority to develop and open Commission and in the role of Chair, particularly in such a the impressive Oval Hotel at Adelaide Oval in September challenging period for SANFL and SANFL Clubs.