AFL CLUBS recorded the highest aggregate profit in the history of the game in 2007, with total profitability reaching $27 million.
AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou released the results of the AFL’s club financial review on at a briefing in
Demetriou said the clubs continued to work extremely hard to increase revenue and to maintain cost levels and that 15 clubs had recorded a profit for the 2007 year.
But four clubs still have negative assets at the end of 2007.
“All but one of our clubs recorded a strong financial result in the black in 2007 and our aim is to work closely with the clubs to help all 16 clubs secure long-term financial security,” Demetriou said.
"Clubs continue to achieve outstanding results in membership support, and total club membership continues to grow, rising 3 per cent on the 2006 figures to 532,697 total members in 2007. The clubs have worked assiduously on the issue of membership churn and this figure has dropped from 16 per cent in 2006 to 14 per cent in 2007.”
Demetriou said Victorian-based clubs had lowered their average churn rate, while this had risen slightly for non-Victorian clubs.
He said said it remained a concern for the competition that the revenue gap between the clubs that generate the most revenue and those that generate the least revenue continues to grow.
"After we include ASD support and non-football income, the total revenue gap between the biggest and smallest clubs was $11million in 2007.
“The average AFL club now employs 98 staff, including players but excluding non-football staff, while football department expenditure increased by 10 per cent over the last 12 months," Demetriou said.
