NEW SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE 110th ANNUAL REPORT SEASON 1998 THE CHIEf COMMISSIONER II -.-present my 1998 Annual report with a touch of sadness but also with great .-1/1_ excitement over what the future holds for Australian Football in this State. As foreshadowed in my report 12 months ago, the A FL Task Force has now completed its investigations and the AFL has made a firm commitment in both financial and human resource terms to the development of the code in NSW and the ACT. Today 1 appeal to you, the members of the NSWAFL, to endorse the recommendation before you which will pave the way for the new look AFL (NSW­ ACT Commission) to commence the enormous task which lays ahead. In this my final report as Chairman of the NSWAFL I would like to take the opportunity to thank those people who have served the League well over many years. Chief Commissioner Special thanks are due to long serving Commissioners Col Koh/hagen and Reg Turner. JOHN YATES While neither of these gentlemen will take up a position on the new Board, I know that each of them will make a significant contribution to football in this State either directly or in an advisory capacity in the future. Congratulations to my other fellow Commissioners John Livy and Ross Howarth who have been appointed to the new Board by the AFL. As all ofyou are aware, John has taken 011 the demanding role of Chief Executive of the new organisation. Football in this State owes a great deal to our Chief Executive Officer Craig Davis and his administrative staff Peter Hiscock and Kris Honan. Together they can hold their heads high having kept the organisation financially sound and managed the affairs of the League well through some difficult times, often having to make unpopular Commissioner decisions in the best interests of the code. Davo in particular is a person who like all COL KOHLHAGEN champion Jootballers takes heavy knocks but still gets up and goes infor the next hard ball so he can get it out to his mate. Thank you Craig for your dedication ,over 10 years to NSW football and congratulations on your appointment as General Manager Football Operations with the new organisation. Congratulations to Peter and Kris who will take 011 key administrative roles with the new Commission. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the army of volunteers who play a vital role in all of our activities. We must never lose sight of the fact that the League could not Junction without these people who give generously of their time and effort for little reward. To all of our Sponsors who are acknowledged individually in our Annual Report, I Commissioner thank you for your generous support to our code and 1 sincerely hope that you will REG TURNER continue to be part of the progressive marketing of Australian Football in this State. It is very pleasing to see a significant increase in the number of kids playing our game particularly in Sydney and the Hunter Region. Credit is due to the Development Foundation staff and also to the Swans for this achievement. I am sure these numbers will continue to grow statewide with the additional resources being put in place at present. I would like to close on a personal note in thanking you the affiliates for your confulence shown in me as a Commissioner over the past 10 years. To my colleagues and the staff, thank you very much for your strong and committed support. The past Commissioner decade has been very rewarding to me as I see the League closing with its affairs in JOHN LIVY order and in a sound financial position. We have also forged a strong relationship with the Sydney Football Club which we must maintain into the future. We now have the challenge ahead of us to lift the Sydney Football League to a higher level and to strengthen country football generally throughout the State. All of this is achievable if we continue to work together as we have in the past. I would ask you to bear in mind that old saying "when one door closes, another one opens" as a change in our course of history is about to begin. JOHN YATES Chief Commissioner Commissioner ROSS HOWARTH NSWAFL PAGE 3 a THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE II ■ Establishment of the AFL (NSW-ACT) Commission - appointment of Chairman Richard he Game in New South Wales has experienced several name Colless and Chief Executive Officer John Livy. changes since its inception in 1880 - T 1880-1894 - NSW Football Association AUSTRAllAN FOOTBAll lEAGUE 1903-1926 - NSW Football League The AFL is an often maligned organisation, however the assistance it has given the NSWAFL 1927-1973 - NSW Australian National Football League has chiefly gone unheralded. I assure you the commitment of the AFL is much appreciated. 1974-1998- NSW Australian Football League 1999 ➔ AFL (NSW-ACT) Their funding assistance is substantial and vital to allow the League to service our affiliates. Access to AFL passes also rewards and encourage many people to view our Game. I present to the members my final Annual Report as with the restructure I take up a new position as General Manager Football Operations - a role of challenge AFL departmental staff assisted the League on numerous projects, to present (as an example) and excitement in which I give total support and loyalty to the new Commission the Annual Ansett Challenge match in a professional manner. headed by Richard Colless and Chief Executive Officer John Livy. To the AFL Commissioners, Executive Staff, Wayne Jackson, Ian Collins, Dean Moore, Ed Chief Executive 1 have never been more excited about the future of the Game and the new CRAIG DAVIS Biggs and staff, thank you for your help and friendship, and we await the new era with millennium cannot come quickly enough. renewed optimism. THE SEASON THAT WAS SYDNEY FOOTBAll ClUB (THE SWANS) The Swans once again are looking outside the square to further assist in the development of ■ Pre-season matches - the game. Swans Intra-Club North Dalton Park, Wollongong Sydney v Brisbane No. 1 Oval, Newcastle Sportsground The establishment of "Team Swans" administered by Craig Holden complimented the Carlton v Richmond Lavington Sports Oval, Albury development staff in every way possible, and produced immense benefits from the appearance Sydney v Essendon Roger Sheeran Oval, Macquarie University, Sydney of Swans players at clinics. Sydney v Adelaide Monarch Field, Campbelltown Over the last few years the Swans have embarked on a campaign to create stability, solidarity ■ NSW Senior State Team wins the Division II Wesfarmers Dalgety Australian and cooperative initiatives in Sydney and NSW. Administration Manager Country Championship at Bendigo -four players named in All Australian PETER HISCOCK Team, Jeremy Sharpen (North Shore), Luke and Nick Carroll (Lavington), The League welcomes the assistance and advice given by Chairman Richard Colless and Chief Craig Sexton (Blighty). Executive Officer Kelvin Templeton. These two men have had a profound influence on the position the game finds itself today. ■ NSW-ACT State Under 18s wins Division II Commonwealth Bank carnival in Adelaide. The cooperation between the two staff is unsolicited, with shared energies achieving maximum outcomes. ■ Congratulations to NSW junior representatives who made All-Australian status- The Swans are not only seeking success in the AFL but have a genuine commitment to foster Under 18s Craig Bolton, Nick Egan, Nick Davis the game. There is an air of expectation around the State and we are with them all the way. Under 16s Adam Matthews Under 15s Jason Turner, Lewis Robert Thompson, Corey Brown, Michael Loughman. DEPARTMENT OF SPORT AND RECREATION The Government through Minister Gabrielle Harrison, Director General William Gillooly and ■ Lenny Hayes, Captain of the NSW-ACT RAMS wins back-to-back Best & the relevant departmental heads provided the League and Foundation with valuable assistance Fairest awards and is honoured with the Morrish Medal for the best player in the administratively and financially. VSFL TAC Cup competition. Salary subsidies and Coaching Grant plus Footy TAB funding enables staffing structure and ■ NSW-ACT AFL draftees - facilities to be put in place for the betterment of the game. Mark McVeigh (Killarney Vale) to Essendon (9) 1997-1998 FOUTY TAB AllOCATION Lenny Hayes (Pennant Hills to St Kilda (11) Turvey Park AFC Amenities Block (Maher Oval, Wagga Wagga) $40,000.00 Nick Davis (St George) to Collingwood (19) Baulkham Hills AFC Amenities Block (Kellyville) 37,500.00 Administration BRENDAN CONNELLY Aaron Henneman (Corowa-Rutherglen) to Essendon (25) Cu/cairn AFC Amenities Block (Cu/cairn) 22,500.00 Craig Bolton (Eastlake) to Brisbane (33) Derek Murray (Lavington) to Port Adelaide (54) Ray Hall (Umina) to Richmond (79) SPONSORSHIP &MARKETING Sponsorship and fund-raising opportunities exceeded budget - this can be attributed to the Jason McPherson (Ganmain-GGM) to Sydney - supp list to main list. extended AFL practice match series and the five year sponsorship of Vili's Pies. Successful State & Regional Championships conducted with the financial ■ Our major sponsor, Carlton & United Breweries not only allocate considerable dollars for our support of Carlton & United Breweries sponsorship. programs but were visibly seen on all occasions. ■ Formation of two new senior clubs, Taree and Kelso (at Bathurst). We record our appreciation to CU B's Reg Turner - Customer Service Manager, David Van Coevorden - Sponsorship Manager, and the staff of the merchandising and marketing ■ C. U.B Sydney Football League Under 18s increases from 10 to 13 teams. department - their friendship and assistance has been invaluable. Executive Secretary KRIS HONAN ■ Task Force report tabled and accepted in principle by the AFL Commission.