The AFL will make sure it retains an 18-club competition beyond the coronavirus crisis.



For the past two weeks, the league has been reassuring clubs that their existence is secure. It has effectively taken over the treasury function of all 18 to ensure the finances of the game are managed correctly across the board. It's been heavily interventionist, but with no complaints.

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Clubs know they all need help to varying degrees.

Finals Week 1

Eventually, the AFL will write a cheque to each of them. Not all were created equal, meaning some clubs will receive greater handouts than others.

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This is how your club is placed to deal with the financial fallout from the coronavirus:

ADELAIDE

Adelaide is a powerhouse of the competition, but it will not be immune from the financial stress caused by the coronavirus. It’s $65 million plan for a new training centre will almost certainly be put on the backburner. Through shrewd financial management, the Crows recently paid off their debt which stemmed from the $20 million upgrade of West Lakes 15 years ago. Last year Adelaide recorded a $2.68 cash operating profit.

STATUS: Healthy

BRISBANE

Brisbane will be badly hurt by not being able to host Collingwood on Easter Thursday at the Gabba. The club will lose more than $5 million not playing in front of crowds for the foreseeable future, but an outstanding 2019 has given it more cushioning than it had beforehand.

Total crowds improved by 34 per cent last year, while Brisbane’s $650,000 profit was its first since 2007. The club still faces significant challenges and will need help from the league, but is better positioned than a few years ago for an unexpected crisis such as this.

STATUS: Holding steady

CARLTON

Carlton made the difficult decision to sever ties with VFL affiliate Northern Blues on Thursday and insiders say it was a brutal decision. But financially, the club had little choice but to make the call.

As confirmed by foxfooty.com.au, the Blues were due to spend 105 per cent of the salary cap in 2020 as a result of underspending in 2018 and 2019. Only clubs in solid financial positions can do this.

STATUS: Healthy

Nathan Buckley looks on during a pre-season training session at the Holden Centre. Source: AAP

COLLINGWOOD

As reported by the Herald Sun on Thursday, Collingwood’s financial cushion built over two decades has allowed it to pay all staff for two days per week work during their lay-offs. The Magpies are unequivocally a powerhouse and have approximately $17 million in a future fund specifically for situations like this. The club boasted a profit of just under $4 million last year. No club is better positioned to deal with a rainy day.

STATUS: Healthy

ESSENDON

Essendon recorded the fourth most members in 2019. Despite enduring a rocky decade, the club has stood firm off the field. As over November last year, the Dons are debt free for the first time since 2011. Presuming The Hangar’s development proceeds as planned, the club will go into debt again but is well positioned to combat it. You'd be hard-pressed to find a supporter base more willing to dip into their own pockets than those who bleed red and black.

STATUS: Healthy

FREMANTLE

The Dockers lost $1.6 million last year. Increased investment in the club’s AFLW operations and a “restructure of club personnel” were two of the official reasons given. Freo's greatest asset is Optus Stadium and without games and crowds in the venue, CEO Simon Garlick will be working hard to make sure the Dockers stay afloat.

STATUS: Holding steady



GEELONG

Geelong estimates every home game with fans locked out of GMHBA Stadium will cost the club about $1 million. Nevertheless, the Cats have a strong football program and a monopoly over a large chunk of Victoria. Chris Scott's decision to sacrifice 100 per cent of his pay for at least the next two months will allow Brian Cook to distribute funds elsewhere.

STATUS: Holding steady

GOLD COAST

Gold Coast received a league record $27.5 million from the AFL last year as the club’s ticketing and membership revenues fell by slightly more than $2.1 million. But what’s abundantly clear is the AFL is not about to give up on the Suns just yet after injecting more than $250 million into the club since 2009. Gold Coast appears almost certain to receive the most financial assistance from the league in the coming months. This is Gillon's baby, and he will look after it.

STATUS: Battling



GWS GIANTS

As an expansion club, GWS has been heavily supported by the AFL since its inception. Strong on-field form in recent years has helped alleviate some of the pressures, though a Grand Final berth in 2019 could not halt an operating loss.

Like Gold Coast, the league is committed to a strong GWS Giants. They are set to benefit from further AFL assistance into the future. It's unknown whether their planned 2021 or 2022 foray into the USA with Essendon will still go ahead in light of the recent financial problems.

STATUS: Holding steady

Proposed new headquarters for Hawthorn Football Club in Dingley Source: Supplied

HAWTHORN

Like Adelaide, Hawthorn cannot afford to continue full steam ahead with its plans for a new $130 million training facility in Dingley. But a remarkable resurgence over the last 20 years sees the club in good shape to survive the current predicament. Up to the financial year ending on October 31, 2019, the Hawks recorded a net operating surplus of $2.15 million.

STATUS: Healthy



MELBOURNE

Melbourne’s disastrous 2019 season saw the club record a financial loss of $1.58 million. Nevertheless, sponsorship remains strong at the Demons and its MCG deal is better than it has been for years. Looking forward, the Demons may find it difficult to lock in a new administration and training base in the near future. The club had hoped to confirm a location this year, but financial restraints could delay things. It's unknown whether the Demons will be able to continue to support Casey in the same capacity.

STATUS: Battling

NORTH MELBOURNE

North Melbourne is almost debt free, which is an achievement in itself given where the club was a decade ago, seemingly bound for the Gold Coast and $9 million in the red. But the Kangaroos remain financially vulnerable largely because they don’t have the membership base of Richmond, Collingwood or West Coast. They will survive, but will require considerable AFL assistance over the coming months.

STATUS: Battling



PORT ADELAIDE

The club has already made eight administration roles redundant but in a letter to members, CEO Keith Thomas maintained the club would survive the crisis. At the end of last year, Port’s debt to the AFL had been reduced to just over $7 million. But it’s 150th year celebrations have been muted with the coronavirus pandemic taking centre stage.

STATUS: Holding steady



RICHMOND

No club is completely shielded from the current revenue issues the game faces, but Richmond’s 100,000-strong membership gives the club a significant upper hand. In an unprecedented show of unison, big clubs like the Tigers have already been working with smaller clubs on uniformed membership options. All 18 clubs understand that the strong getting stronger and weak getting weaker is bad for the game.

STATUS: Healthy

Tim Membrey in action at RSEA Park. Source: AAP

ST KILDA

Chief executive Matt Finnis was bullish on radio this week, but the reality is the Saints have been struggling financially for years and have depended heavily on AFL handouts. Last year, they received $20.6 million from the league, which was the most of any Victorian club.

The move to Moorabbin will have great long-term benefits, but any prospect of eliminating pokies from its revenue stream must now be put on the backburner. The club made $2 million from pokies at Linton Street in 2018 and simply can’t afford not to have them… yet.

STATUS: Battling



SYDNEY

For the first time in nine years, Sydney reported an operating net loss last season. Still, the club remains in a stable financial position and boasts a talented young list. The Swans won’t be one of the most affected clubs by the coronavirus, but they also won’t be immune from its impacts.

STATUS: Holding steady



WEST COAST

Along with Richmond and Collingwood, West Coast received the AFL’s base distribution of $11.5 million from the AFL last year. They generate enough of their own income in juggernaut-like fashion and have done for a long time. They will have to restructure their football department in line with significantly reduced soft cap, but the future of the club under Trevor Nisbett is not in question.

STATUS: Healthy



WESTERN BULLDOGS

Although they are not yet a powerhouse AFL club, the Dogs have enjoyed a mini-resurgence over the past half-decade. The club’s profit nudged almost $3 million last year, which was their fourth consecutive season over the $1 million mark. However the result from the Bulldogs’ gaming industry exit could hurt more than originally calculated.

STATUS: Holding steady