AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE 111 TH ANNUAL REPORT 2007 2007 AFL ANNUAL REPORT AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE p01_Cover8.75mmNEWEST.indd 1 14/2/08 6:05:46 PM AWARDS, WINNERS & RESULTS [ 9 ] AWARDS, WINNERS & RESULTS [ 9 ] AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE 111TH ANNUAL REPORT 2007 Principles and Outcomes 4 Marketing, Communications Concise Financial Report 122 Incorporating a farewell and Public Affairs 76 Directors’ report 124 to the greats: End of an Era The AFL in the media 78 Lead Auditor’s Independence AFL Foundation 83 Declaration 126 Chairman’s/CEO’s Reports 14 AFL SportsReady 85 Income Statements 127 Chairman’s report 16 Statements of Recognised CEO’s report 23 Finance and Administration/ Income and Expense 127 Corporate Governance 30 Legal and Business Affairs 86 Balance Sheets 128 Finance and Administration 88 Statements of Cash Flows 129 Broadcasting and 2007 payments to clubs 90 Notes to the Concise Commercial Operations 34 Legal and Business Affairs 91 Financial Statements 130 Attendance record 43 People and Culture 92 Directors’ Declaration 132 Strategic planning Independent Audit Report 132 and club support 48 2007 Awards, Results 10-year Financial Summary 133 and Farewells 94 AFL Committees and Advisors 134 Football Operations 50 2007 premiers 96 2008 fixture 135 Laws of the Game Committee 52 Jock McHale Medal 98 Umpiring department 54 Norm Smith Medal 99 MAIN IMAGE: Kangaroos forward Aaron Edwards takes a spectacular pack mark against Hawthorn Match Review Panel Brownlow Medal 101 in a semi-final. Edwards beat teammate Drew Petrie and AFL Tribunal 56 and Hawthorn pair Stephen Gilham and Trent Croad, Coleman Medal 102 with Lachlan Hansen (26) in the foreground. Total Player Earnings 59 NAB AFL Rising Star 103 FRONT COVER: Geelong captain Tom Harley with Coca-Cola AFL the 2007 premiership cup. National and International All-Australian Team 105 Development 60 Premiership season 108 Participation 64 2007 results 109 NAB AFL Rising Stars program 66 NAB Cup 110 Second-tier review 68 Australian Football International development 69 Hall of Fame 112 AFL NSW/ACT 72 AFL Life Members 114 AFL Queensland 74 Retirees 116 Obituaries 118 END OF AN ERA JAMES HIRD CLUB: Essendon 1992-2007; 253 games, 343 goals James Hird is one of the greatest players of all time. Kevin Sheedy, his only coach at AFL level, rated Hird the best player he coached in his 27 years at Essendon. A silky skilled player who was equally dangerous in the midfield or at half-forward, Hird (here with son Alexander) was also an inspirational leader who often lifted his team in close games with passages of individual brilliance. HONOURS: Brownlow Medal 1996 (equal); Champions of Essendon (No. 3); Essendon Team of the Century (half-forward flank); best and fairest 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003 (equal), 2007; 2nd best and fairest 2000; Norm Smith Medal 2000; All-Australian 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001 (captain), 2003; International Rules Series 2000 (captain), 2004 (captain); Jim Stynes Medal 2000; leading goalkicker 1995, 1996; AFL Rising star nominee 1993; premiership sides 1993, 2000; pre-season premiership sides 1993, 1994, 2000; Anzac Day Medal 2000, 2003, 2004; captain 1998-2005. PRINCIPLES AND OUTCOMES AFL CLUBS Principles: To secure the future of the 16-club AFL competition; to make sure our clubs are financially secure and competitive – on and off the field. Outcomes in 2007 – off-field: ■ $125.5 million distributed to AFL clubs. ■ Richmond at Punt Road Oval (Federal Government, Victorian Government and City of Melbourne also ■ Through the Strategic Partnership Fund, a range providing funding); of projects were developed in conjunction with AFL clubs to support the AFL industry across ■ Essendon at Windy Hill (for the redevelopment three main streams – commercial and finance; of the Cookson Stand). membership and ticketing, and fan development ■ and community. Other proposed club facility developments include the Kangaroos at Arden Street and Melbourne at ■ Toyota AFL Premiership Season matches supported Olympic Park. for the Kangaroos on the Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs in Darwin, Hawthorn in Launceston and On-field: Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs in Canberra. ■ Geelong won its first premiership in 44 years after ■ AFL committed funding to new training and finishing 10th in 2006. administration facilities for various AFL ■ Port Adelaide was runner-up to Geelong after finishing clubs including: 12th in 2006. ■ The Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval (Federal ■ The Kangaroos reached the preliminary final after Government, Victorian Government and City finishing 14th in 2006. of Maribyrnong also providing funding); ■ Hawthorn participated in its first finals series since ■ Carlton at MC Labour Park (Victorian Government 2001 after finishing 11th in 2006. and City of Melbourne also providing funding); ■ St Kilda at Frankston (Victorian Government and City of Frankston also providing funding); 5 END OF AN ERA NATHAN BUCKLEY CLUBS: Brisbane 1993: 20 games, 21 goals; Collingwood 1994-2007: 260 games, 263 goals Some have already claimed Nathan Buckley as the greatest Magpie. A midfielder with the lot – sublime skills, endurance, strength and a passion for the contest – Buckley was one of the most dominant players of his generation. Later in his career, he became one of the most respected leaders in the game, captaining the Pies in more matches than anyone in their history. HONOURS: Brownlow Medal 2003 (equal); 2nd Brownlow Medal 1998; 3rd Brownlow Medal 1999 (equal); Collingwood Team of the Century; best and fairest 1994 (equal), 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003; 2nd best and fairest 1993, 1997; 3rd best and fairest 2001; Norm Smith Medal 2002; All-Australian 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 (vice-captain), 2000 (vice-captain), 2001, 2003 (vice-captain); International Rules Series 1998, 1999 (captain); Magarey Medal 1992; AFL Rising Star 1993; Jesaulenko Medal 1997; Allies captain 1997; Collingwood captain 1999-2007. 6 PRINCIPLES AND OUTCOMES PLAYERS Principles: To provide the best possible benefits for AFL players; to drive the next generation of elite athletes to choose our game. Outcomes in 2007: ■ Total Player Payments – $111.1 million ■ Revamped NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, ($6.94 million per club). with finals to be played on Toyota AFL Grand Final day. ■ $12.1 million provided to the AFL Players’ Association as part of Collective Bargaining ■ AFL partnership with Federal Government to establish Agreement. two Indigenous Sporting Chance academies in Sydney and one in Cairns. ■ Medical benefits provided to AFL players via the AFL grant to the AFLPA. ■ AFLPA delivered programs to players in conjunction with clubs and AFL including: ■ An additional $1.4 million provided to the AFLPA retirement fund. ■ Induction camp for newly drafted players; ■ Players shared in some $1.1 million in prize ■ Work placements; money provided by the AFL to clubs finishing in the top four. ■ Employment opportunities; ■ ■ Additional benefits provided to rookies and Financial education; players in the early stages of their careers, ■ Career counselling; including a 16 per cent increase in the minimum payment for a rookie. ■ Education and career guidance; ■ Talented player pathway upgraded with key ■ IT skills training; developments including: ■ Personal counselling; ■ Establishment in 2008 of an AFL Academy in ■ each state and territory; Indigenous support program; ■ Education and training. ■ Establishment in 2009 of AFL Centres of Excellence linked to major state league clubs; 6 7 END OF AN ERA MARK RICCIUTO CLUB: Adelaide 1993-2007; 312 games, 292 goals Mark Ricciuto is most people’s choice as the best-ever Adelaide Crow. A gamebreaker whether in the midfield or, later in his career, on the forward line, Ricciuto was the Crows’ go-to player when the game was on the line. He was also a superb leader whose uncompromising attack on the ball showed the way for his teammates. HONOURS: Brownlow Medal 2003 (equal); 2nd Brownlow Medal 2004; best and fairest 1994, 1997, 2000; 3rd best and fairest 1994, 1997, 2000; All-Australian 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 (captain), 2005 (captain); International Rules Series 1998, 2000; leading goalkicker 2006; AFL Rising Star nominee 1993; premiership side 1998; pre-season premiership side 2003; captain since 2001. PRINCIPLES AND OUTCOMES THE AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL COMMUNITY Principles: To build a stronger relationship with our supporters at all levels; to continue to expand the national footprint of our game; to grow our existing supporter base; to develop new markets, and to provide more opportunities to participate in our game. Outcomes in 2007: ■ Total participation up by 9.8 per cent or more than ■ AFL allocated $35.9 million to support development 56,000 participants to a record 638,000. including national programs and activities in a community network which consists of 2600 clubs ■ Total participation includes a record 161,000 fielding more than 11,600 teams each week of the players in 2800 AFL Auskick community centres season in 269 leagues throughout Australia, with throughout Australia. 24,000 coaches, 10,000 umpires and more than ■ Key participation growth in New South Wales 100,000 volunteers. and Queensland. ■ AFL invested $10 million in community facility ■ New Indigenous programs secured in partnership projects valued at $100 million. with Federal Government: ■ AFL Club Community Camps completed for the ■ AFL Club fostership program, with selected AFL seventh year; 70 per cent of country regions have clubs to adopt various Indigenous communities; hosted