SA football agenda still loaded with three big assignments

THERE are three big-ticket items on the SANFL's agenda that are dragging on.

BY the SANFL's appointment calendar, the order for debate on SA football's big-ticket items was:

1. SELL the SA-based Crows and Power licences to the AFL Commission.

2. SIGN stadium deals for the Crows and Power at the new Adelaide Oval.

3. SECURE AFL reserves teams for the Crows and Power in the SANFL.

And by March next year a new era of SA football was to open with a bright, promising future that includes rivers of gold from the sale of the SANFL's biggest real-estate asset, the AAMI Stadium precinct.

All this could all unfold in reverse, but don't hold your breath (particularly on finding hundreds of millions of dollars in selling the farm at West Lakes).

For the SANFL league directors - the eight men who will decide if the Crows and Power get reserves teams in their competition - they would prefer the agenda order to stay as listed above. Like mushrooms, they are very much in the dark on how the licence sale is unfolding ... and why it is being constantly delayed.

SANFL president John Olsen told The Advertiser on Monday he had repeatedly thought in the past nine months the deal - that would score $15 million for the SANFL's debt-laden coffers - was ready to sign.

Clearly, the AFL is holding back until it is convinced big-ticket item No. 2 - the stadium deal at the Oval - is the best-possible for the Crows and Power.

The SA-based AFL clubs say the terms at the Oval are "good but could be better".

The SANFL clubs want to share $4.5 million a season from the Oval. And the Stadium Management Authority still will not admit its growing budgets - that contrast the "lean" model promised in November 2009 - are eating into the returns of the AFL clubs.

The SA Football Commission met on Tuesday morning to consider the latest reports and studies on how AFL reserves teams can work in the SANFL - and the long-term challenges for the SANFL competition beyond the reserves debate.

The commission's views last night moved to another "information session" with the league directors who have the final say (with at least six needing to vote in favour of any change).

Expect the directors to stall until they get more information on the licence sales and Oval deal.

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