2019 2019ANNUAL REPORT SANFL Annual Report L NF SA B LU C L FL L AN A S B B T LU O O C L F L A E B D I T A O L O E F D C E A D T I R A O L P E D C A T R O P 1 M S A IE M S GP AGPIE 2019 SANFL HIGHLIGHTS 222,407 16 Total number of football participants in SA SA Female players listed 8.7% growth with AFLW Clubs 11,671 Auskick participants 9% increase in 2019 13,445 boys and girls registered to play across 682 teams and 54 community clubs in SANFL Juniors. Launched the SANFL APM Inclusive League 13 Dylan Stephens SA Male players (Norwood) #5 Pick (Sydney) selected in the 2019 AFL Draft & Rookie Draft 2 39,105 Glenelg FC wins first League Fans attended the Statewide Premiership in 33 years Super League Grand Final South Adelaide back to back Highest Finals Series SANFL Statewide Super attendance figures since 2014 Women’s League Premiers Growth in attendance figures at SANFL 4% Statewide Super League minor round matches 11,671 2,513 $500K Registered Umpires Generated for the Port Pirie region, with 5000 people at- including 242 new umpires tending the SA Country Football Championships SANFL Multicultural Programs nominated for 2019 Governor’s 54,449 Multicultural Awards Total number of registered club players, making football the most popular sport played in SA 24% increase in female registered club players 3 FROM THE LEADERSHIPEW 2019 was a year that reinforced SANFL’s proven approach of responsible strategic governance and commitment to The strong pool of female talent being reflected at the long-term sustainability and health of South Australian the 2019 AFLW Draft with 16 South Australian players football. listed with AFLW Clubs. The ongoing focus on debt reduction positions SANFL Total football participation reached 222,407, strongly for the future. League debt has been reduced representing 8.7% growth, while the number of to $2.8m and is on-track to be eliminated by October 31, registered club players peaked at 54,449. 2020, while payments to SANFL member clubs have helped reduce club debt to $8m. AFL Auskick participation numbers in South Australia continued to rise, with a total 11,671 participants in It is a far cry from the position the League and its clubs 2019, a 9% increase on 2018. More than 2,200 (almost occupied prior to the move to the redeveloped Adelaide one in five) Auskick participants in SA were female. Oval in 2014, when SANFL faced crippling combined League and club debts of $55m while holding just $28m In the SANFL Juniors competition, over 13,000 boys of net assets. It is a testament to our approach, which has and girls were registered to play across 682 teams positioned SANFL as arguably the most relevant, financially and 54 community clubs. stable and community-connected State League in the country. However, none of this is possible without a strong SANFL Community Football successfully established product on-field and our key indicators show that football in the third Regional Football Council (Mid North and South Australia is healthier than it has ever been. Yorke Peninsula Regional Council) to underpin the After passing the 200,000 mark for the first time in 2018, future sustainability of regional football. overall participation rose again in 2019 and we now have more than 222,400 people either playing football or The SA Country Football Championships, combined for participating in football programs in South Australia. the first time with the regional SANFL League match, Significant growth in the women’s game continues to be a was an overwhelming success, generating $500,000 headline story, with a 24 per cent increase in the number of for the Port Pirie region. SA females registered in club teams. The continuing growth in female football resulted in Other key highlights from the year included: SANFL’s recruitment of over 240 new umpires, bringing the total number of registered umpires across the Glenelg breaking a 33-year premiership drought, State to 2,513. defeating Port Adelaide in front of a crowd of more than 39,000 at Adelaide Oval. It was the third SANFL has been nominated for the 2019 Governor’s consecutive year that the SANFL Grand Final has Multicultural Awards in recognition of SANFL’s attracted a crowd of more than 39,000 people. contribution to multiculturalism, inclusion and social harmony through its multicultural football programs. Overall growth in SANFL Statewide Super League attendances of 4% when compared with 2018, and a The successful launch of the SANFL APM Inclusive 19% increase in the average Channel 7 audience during League in Adelaide provided an opportunity for males the home and away season. with an intellectual disability to play competition footy. Across the Finals Series, attendances were at their Such achievements continue to reinforce SANFL’s position highest since 2014, the year in which SANFL finals as a professional, focussed and committed organisation moved to Adelaide Oval. In addition to drawing large driven by a common purpose of growing and maintaining crowds, the 2019 SANFL finals also attracted a strong South Australian football at all levels. television audience on Channel 7, with the Grand Final achieving 56% market share and a peak TV audience It is this approach and our shared love of footy that ensures of 145,902. we continue to invest in the game, to provide more opportunities for more South Australians to participate Continued success of our elite development programs, in football, no matter the age, ability, gender or cultural with a total of 13 players selected in the 2019 AFL background and to operate strong and competitive Draft, including two Rookie listed players, and 5th State League competitions for both men and women. pick Dylan Stephens and a further two players taken in 4 the first round. FROM THE LEADERSHIPEW Financial Performance SANFL commenced in January 2020 a significant SANFL’s financial performance in 2019 was headlined by redevelopment of the Tavern at Football Park that will further debt reduction, reflecting the League’s ongoing form part of the land development project at that site. commitment to prudent financial management. Highlights With more than 2,000 new local residents by 2027, of our 2019 Financial Results include: the Tavern will create a significantly improved revenue stream for SANFL from the 2021 financial year. Secured bank debt reduced from $7.3m to $2.8m due to the further proceeds from land sales at The Adelaide Oval Hotel construction is well underway Football Park. and the hotel is scheduled to open by the end of September 2020. Again, this will create a new revenue Statutory net profit of $3.39m, excluding $4.5m in stream for SANFL as a 50% Joint Venture shareholder game development grants paid to SANFL member of AOSMA who is constructing and operating the Hotel. clubs and net assets of $95.93m. Reduction in financing expenses of $205,000 due to SANFL’s lowered debt position.. Club debt was also reduced to $8m following payments totalling another $2.5m to the eight member clubs. Those payments represent the fourth tranche of the $16m being distributed to SANFL member clubs over seven years from the Football Park redevelopment. Cash earnings fell by $2.2m, largely due to a decrease in net income received from Adelaide Oval as a 50% joint venture partner, which can be attributed to fewer major events at Adelaide Oval, lower attendances and increases in operating costs in 2019. While SANFL is budgeting on a similar financial result in 2020, there are two major projects underway that that will lead to an improved financial result from 2021 and SANFL returning to a cash earnings surplus by 2022: 5 FROM THE LEADERSHIPEW in the State’s Mid North and Yorke Peninsula region. This Health of the Game followed the successful establishment of regional councils in the Eyre Peninsula and Limestone Coast regions in 2017 Further growth in participation has ensured that football and 2018 respectively which have already seen positive maintained its position as the leading code in South benefits for local leagues and club volunteers. Australia in 2019. SANFL maintained its strong focus on diversity and The total number of male and female registered club achieved several significant milestones in expanding access participants in SA climbed to a record 54,449, representing to the game to an even broader demographic. Multicultural an increase of 2.95% on 2018, making football the most participation numbers continued to rise across the board popular club sport played in SA. and, in 2019, there were over 1,400 registered multicultural NAB AFL Auskick participants in SA, representing a 13% Overall female participation in football continued to increase on 2018. grow, most significantly in the number of registered club participants in SA, which reached 7,594 players (a 24% SANFL also successfully launched two key initiatives increase). Regionally, the number of female players grew aimed at fostering diversity in our game – the SANFL by almost 50 per cent, with over 3,100 females registered in APM Inclusive League in Adelaide for males living with an club teams across regional SA following the introduction of intellectual disability and SANFL ECH Walking Footy for over eight new dedicated female competitions. 50s, which held its first come and try sessions ahead of an inaugural competition, due to commence in March 2020. Girls are also participating in the game earlier, with the In recognition of our contribution to multiculturalism, number of girls aged 5-8 registered at Auskick centres inclusion and social harmony through our various football throughout SA reaching 2,418 – a 15% increase.