COLLINGWOOD has vowed to keep its football department spending in check after recording a profit of just over $2 million in 2014.
The club cut $450,000 from football department expenditure in 2014 as it re-aligned its structure and spending priorities and only expects to pay a small tax for exceeding the AFL-imposed cap next season.
Collingwood CEO Gary Pert said the Pies analysed their football spending priorities and is confident the club will still be able to achieve what it needs to without blowing out costs.
"We won't compromise the key strategic people and resources required to do what we set out to do," Pert said.
"We'll probably pay a small tax."
The Magpies will invest more in player and coaching wellbeing and skill acquisition programs as they continue their evolution under senior coach Nathan Buckley.
They spent $22 million in the football department in 2014.
Collingwood will enter 2015 with a new director of football, Neil Balme, a new club doctor, Chris Bradshaw, and has recently appointed a biomechanical expert to improve its kicking efficiency.
The Magpies have had just eight players go through a season without missing a game since 2011, the lowest in the competition apart from the Giants.
Although they remain a financial powerhouse with annual revenue maintained at $76 million, the Magpies felt the effects of lower crowds in 2014 caused by an experimental fixture and poor on-field performance in the second half of the season.
The club estimated that the controversial Sunday night game in round 15 between Collingwood and Carlton that attracted just 40,939 spectators cost the club $750,000 in budgeted revenue because of reduced corporate earnings and gate receipts related to the game.
It was the fourth lowest crowd ever between the two clubs at the MCG and the lowest between the two sides at the venue since 1921.
However the Pies also lost eight of their last 11 games to finish 11th, the club's lowest ladder position since 2005 which had an effect on crowds and corporate sales rather than membership, which remained at record levels.
After factoring in depreciation on assets and other expenses, the 2014 profit was less than last year's operating profit of $5.23 million.
Pert said however it was a strong result with huge membership numbers continuing to drive revenue as the club repositioned itself for the future with construction continuing on its redeveloped Westpac Centre.
The club also listed its revenue sharing contribution for the first time with the club redistributing $893,165 as part of the AFL's equalisation gate levy deducted from match day returns.
President Eddie McGuire has been a strong player in the equalisation debate with the AFL's competitive balance policy launched last season having limits on the amount of revenue shared between clubs.
Collingwood has a blockbuster fixture next season that includes playing Carlton when Blues coach Mick Malthouse is due to break Jock McHale's coaching record and five of their first seven games at the MCG, with three of those being Friday night.
