2018 Financial Report

2018 ESSENDON FOOTBALL CLUB • ANNUAL REPORT • ABN 22 004 286 373 EVERYONE MATTERS PURPOSE IN EVERYTHING NO FINISH LINE 2018 FINANCIAL REPORT 1 2018 ESSENDON FOOTBALL CLUB • ANNUAL REPORT • ABN 22 004 286 373 In consecutive years, we had one million fans attend our games CONTENTS CHAIRMAN’S and we proudly participated in our traditional blockbuster games across ANZAC Day and Dreamtime at the ‘G as well as the more REPORT recently established Powercor Country Festival game. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 3 We are a financially strong football club. This year, we take great There is no doubt the AFL competition has never been more even pride in announcing a profit of $2,321,871. Importantly we have FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT 4 across the 18 teams. further reduced our debt and done so quicker than initially anticipated. DIRECTORS’ REPORT 5 In the end, our disappointing start to the year made it difficult to chase down the rest of the pack and despite a strong and We continue to focus on investment across non-traditional INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 7 promising finish to the season we were not good enough to play revenue streams, as well as strategic partnerships to strengthen the future of our football club, highlighted through our partnership FINANCIAL REPORT 8 finals football. with RMIT University. However, there were several highlights on field that made our organisation incredibly proud. Our inspiring captain, Dyson At both a Federal and State Government level, discussions Heppell, notched up his 150th AFL game milestone and continues continue regarding the Club’s proposed development and to lead from the front, both on and off the field. subsequent expansion of our facility, The Hangar. Excitingly, the projected expansion will include dormitory facilities which will be Our new recruits including our reigning Crichton Medallist Devon the first of its kind in the AFL, servicing Paralympic athletes, as Smith, Adam Saad and Jake Stringer integrated well into the well as our next generation academy participants with a focus on football program, each contributing strongly on-field during the indigenous players from the Northern Territory – strengthening year, week in and week out. our overall commitment to establish pathways for girls and boys from the remote communities of the Tiwi Islands and West The talent of our emerging youngsters was on show via our Arnhem Land. debutants in Matt Guelfi, Jordan Ridley, Dylan Clarke and Kobe Mutch, while exciting defender Aaron Francis earned our Club’s Proudly, the new development of The Hangar will be the first sole Rising Star nomination in Round 22. permanent, physical home for the historic Australian Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame, as well as a business accelerator centre for We farewelled great people from our football club – and with new commercial opportunities, and we will look to re-create that we acknowledge the outstanding contributions of Brendon the Essendon Hall of Fame and Museum. We envisage the Goddard, Jackson Merrett, Josh Green, Matt Dea, Matthew development will be completed by 2021, which will align with the Leuenberger and Travis Colyer (who will continue his playing Essendon Football Club’s 150th year anniversary celebrations. We career at Fremantle). will continue to advise our members first of these updates as they come to hand. Off the field, our pioneer Kevin Sheedy was elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football League Hall of Fame in May, We remain proud of our extensive work in the community joining the illustrious group of Legends across the competition, throughout Australia, supporting major partners including just ten years after he was inducted into football royalty. Challenge and The Long Walk, and across our multicultural programs. Further, Michael Long’s “ incredible playing career and After seven years of a strong partnership, we acknowledge KIA work to empower indigenous WE ARE MUCH Australia for their support and warmly welcome Amart Furniture Australians was honoured MORE THAN who join Fujitsu as the two co-major partners of our proud football in bronze at the entrance to club. The Hangar earlier this year JUST AN AFL – the statue immortalising his TEAM. Our thanks also to our valued coteries, supporter groups and inspiring legacy. volunteers. We arguably lay claim to having the biggest and ” strongest supporter network across the AFL and the dedication But we are much more than just an AFL team. shown by all is unparalleled. This year, we proudly launched our inaugural VFLW team, and I take this opportunity to acknowledge the commitment of the I congratulate all involved in establishing the foundations of a Essendon Board, and the tireless work of the Club’s Executive successful football program. We were delighted when history was team and administration staff under the leadership and guidance made in October, when 18-year-old key forward Danielle Ponter of Chief Executive Officer, Xavier Campbell. became the first Essendon VFL Women’s player to be drafted onto an AFL Women’s list. Internally, we know the hard work isn’t over. In fact, it’s just beginning. We also entered a team in the newly established Australian Wheelchair Football League. The side finished in fourth spot We have laid strong foundations yet acknowledge there will overall, while we also proudly acquired an e-sports team, who continue to be challenges ahead. However, with challenges made the finals in their debut season. come opportunities, and next season is an incredibly exciting opportunity to continue our climb back up the AFL ladder. As our members are no doubt proud of these organisational achievements, in turn we are continually proud of them. This year, We head into season 2019 with a great sense of optimism. we recorded our highest-ever number of members – significantly surpassing last year’s record by over 10,000. Recording an Go the Mighty Bombers. overall number of 79,318, we look forward to breaking through the 80,000 member mark in 2019. The contribution, the loyalty and the passion our members continue to show is unrivalled. You are the lifeblood of our football club and we thank you for your support. Lindsay Tanner 2 3 2018 ESSENDON FOOTBALL CLUB • ANNUAL REPORT • ABN 22 004 286 373 DIRECTORS’ REPORT 5. MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS Your Directors present their report on Essendon Football Club The number of directors’ meetings (including meetings of committees Financial position (the “Company”) for the year ended 31 October 2018. of directors) and number of meetings attended by each of the directors FINANCE during the financial year are: At 31 October 2018 the net assets of the Club were $36.0 million, 1. DIRECTORS compared with $32.5 million in 2017. The increase is made up DIRECTOR’S REPORT The names of the directors in office at any time during or since of our profit for the year plus a revaluation of our carparks at AUDIT, RISK NOMINATIONS & the end of the year are: DIRECTORS’ & INTEGRITY REMUNERATION REMUNERATION Windy Hill by $1.25 million. MEETINGS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE MEETINGS MEETINGS NAME OF DIRECTOR L. Tanner D. P. Cousins C. Heffernan Borrowings at 31 October 2018 amounted to $3.9 million, P. Brasher (resigned 18 (resigned 17 K. Lay The year ended, 31 October 2018 was another very successful (Chairman) Barham Number Number Number Number December 2017) December 2017) Number Number Number Number eligible to eligible eligible eligible although at the same time we had cash at bank of $3.985 attended attended attended attended one for the club from a financial viewpoint. The headline attend to attend to attend to attend million. The exceptionally high cash balance is the result of the M. Verner result – a net profit of $2,321,871 – is significantly below last S. Wellman timing of 2019 member subscription receipts, with $2.7 million Green year’s reported profit, but to get a better understanding of C. Lio S. Madden A. Muir (appointed 18 L. Tanner 13 13 - - - - - - (appointed 18 December 2017) received on the last day of the year, which in the previous year December 2017) our performance it is necessary to consider movements in the D. Barham 13 13 2 2 - - - - were not received until immediately after balance date. underlying profit, after adjusting for what can be described P. Brasher 13 12 4 4 - - 2 2 All of the directors have been in office since the start of the as non-operating items, and to also have regard to the very It should also be remembered that our borrowings have been financial year, unless stated otherwise. P. Cousins 2 2 2 2 - - - - significant cash generated by the business in 2018. The reduced by $4.6 million received to date earmarked for the next M. Verner following table illustrates these points. 11 11 - - - - - - stage of the Tullamarine development. A better understanding 2. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY Green of our “real” borrowing position at 31 October 2018 can be The principal activity of the Company during the course of C. Heffernan 2 1 - - - - - - 2018 2017 gleaned from the following: the financial year was to conduct the Essendon Football Club K. Lay 13 11 4 4 3 3 2 2 and manage its affairs and to promote the Australian game of $000 $000 2018 2017 C. Lio 13 13 - - 3 3 2 2 football. There were no significant changes in the nature of the Net profit per the financial statements 2,322 5,054 $000 $000 S. Madden 13 11 - - - - - - principal activities during the financial year. Borrowings per the balance sheet (3,900) (6,900) A. Muir 13 11 - - 3 3 2 2 3. OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES OF THE COMPANY Cash on hand 3,985 2,037 S. Wellman 11 11 - - - - - - Less Grants and Donations Abnormally high membership receipts Our objective is to be a thriving professional sporting club delivering consistent top 4 performance in all key on and off 6.

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