AFLW and Port’s China project set to be quarantined from industry-wide COVID-19 financial pain
COVID-19 is devastating the AFL industry but two special projects, the AFLW and Port Adelaide’s quest into China, could be quarantined from the carnage.
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AFLW and Port Adelaide’s China venture stand to be protected from horror COVID-19 related cost cutting that is decimating the industry.
Adelaide chief executive Andrew Fagan remains steadfastly behind the AFLW concept despite the club shedding 80 per cent of staff last week.
The AFL funded AFLW by $16.4 million in 2019, which was set to ramp up $6 million this year.
However, the AFL is seeking a minimum $500 million bank loan from the NAB to keep its competitions operating in the absence of fixtures this year.
“I think AFLW has become a critical part of the fabric of footy in this country. We have loved the impact it has had on our football club internally and way it has been embraced by our fans and which the community more broadly has got behind the girls,” Fagan told The Advertiser.
“The result has seen tens of thousands of girls take up the game and I don’t think anyone wants that to be lost.”
An AFL spokesman when contacted by The Advertiser said there was nothing to suggest the future of AFLW or China games would be threatened by the COVID-19 financial crisis.
AFLW players wanted a 13-round season in collective bargaining last year – just four games short of the 17-round season men could move to this year.
AFLW club total player payments will rise to $619,109 next year and $8.722 million before jumping to $717,122 and $10.098 respectively in 2022.
AFLW will feature 10 rounds and three weeks of finals by 2022.
Rather than a pet project, Fagan insists AFLW could propel the game’s emergence from a COVID-19 depression.
“I think it will be one of the core parts of actually rebuilding the game. It actually adds strength to the rebuild because of the number of people engaged with the game as a result of it,” said Fagan.
“It is one of a number of areas we need to structure appropriately to make sure we have 18 viable clubs and a viable league.”
Adelaide’s AFLW program appears safe but the Crows long coveted move from West Lakes to a new North Adelaide base has gone from formality to backburner in the devastating fallout of a suspended season.
“I haven’t given it a minute’s thought, been dealing with this issue and people who are part of the Crows family and AFL,” Fagan said.
St Kilda is contracted to play in Shanghai next season and forfeited $700,000 when its May 31 clash against the Power was moved due to COVID-19.
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas says one bad year won’t derail a Shanghai initiative that is embedded in its long-term financial model.
The AFL set-up a commercial office in Shanghai last year to promote game growth, trade and investment.
Abandoning its fixture in the totalitarian nation where coronavirus originated wouldn’t diminish ‘enthusiasm and belief in what our China strategy offers’ insists Thomas.
“China was a strategy about diversifying revenue streams and spreading risk and I think it is still very valid,” said Thomas, who forced to cut eight administration roles at Alberton this week.
“We are asking for patience and don’t know when we are going to be playing again. It forces you to think about everything. It is way too soon to be talking about what will be lost.”
Originally published as AFLW and Port’s China project set to be quarantined from industry-wide COVID-19 financial pain