Local footy: Volunteers spearhead AFL’s ‘critical’ areas of support at community level

Three areas lead the AFL’s agenda for grassroots footy, while the league has weighed in on cost of living pressures and policing concussion protocols at local level. All and more revealed here.

Surrey Park was one of local footy’s fairytale stories of 2023, winning its first Eastern league flag. Picture: George Sal

Volunteers remain the sport’s lifeblood and are among the AFL’s “critical” areas of support for community footy, according to league executive general manager of game development, Rob Auld.

Highlighting the AFL’s August 2022 move to enshrine 10 per cent of industry revenue to support the grassroots game, the investment will result in at least $1 billion injected by 2033.

“That gave us a sense of stability and an ability to take a long-term view in community footy,” Auld said.

“(But) when I talk to community footy stakeholders, they’re much more interested in what you’re going to spend it on.”

Assisting clubs and volunteers, school engagement and finding new ways to play the game to grow participation are at the forefront of that investment.

“We must continue to help clubs and volunteers – that’s paramount,” Auld said.

“In Victoria, for example, we’ve put club development leads into each of the regions in country Victoria. We’ve had club development leads through our metro leagues – individuals with the sole task of helping volunteers navigate their way through running a footy and netball club.

“We’re continuing to make sure that we’re strong and present in schools to ensure boys and girls are getting access and experience in our sport and that they don’t necessarily have to be in a club environment to do so.

“There’s an appetite for more formats and ways to play our game – (AFL) 9s, short formats, less players, potentially less contact – we’ve got to continue to innovate and find ways to further modify our game or create new ways to play.”

The AFL’s assistance of local footy’s volunteers is “paramount”, Rob Auld says. Valeriu Campan

Auld said the shifting demographic in rural and regional areas posed a major challenge for the grassroots game’s future and its clubs.

He said some clubs may need salary cap and player points assistance or explore the option of merging to survive the shift.

“That will continue to challenge the footprint of football right around our country and in Victoria,” Auld said.

“There’s going to be some instances where clubs will need to face the reality of how they continue to compete and exist and that may well be through us allowing them to have slightly higher points in some instances or slightly higher salary caps.

“But even if they can’t help, then there’s going to be some instances where clubs will need to be proactive and need to look at joining forces with a club up the road.

“That’s not the option that we are promoting or proactively seeking … it’s just a reality that the broader demographic movement will mean that some clubs will need to explore their options of joining forces with other clubs.”

Mitcham fans take in the EFNL Division 1 grand final in 2023. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Concussion remains a hot topic of conversation, with the AFL’s newly-introduced protocols dictating anyone showing any symptoms of concussion will be stood down for a minimum of 21 days.

Increased from 12 days, the changes aim to protect players from long-term damage sustained from head injuries and follow a senate inquiry last year into head trauma in Australian sport.

“I don’t think there’s anything more important to the AFL than the health and safety of the people who play our game,” Auld said.

“We’re investing significantly in understanding how we can continue to create the best environment for boys, girls, men and women to play.”

As for those who flout the rules?

“What we prefer is to have the confidence in the fact that we’re educating and making people aware of what’s required if you’ve suffered a concussion,” Auld said.

“It’s incredibly difficult for us to lead that through a sanction framework. We’re going to rely on medical advice and appropriate clearance from GPs, so it’s not really for us to sanction their judgement.

“If you had a concussion 30 years ago, it’s a very, very different world today than what it was, so we need to make sure community footy is being best educated and most aware of what the right decisions are.”

AFL executive general manager of game development, Rob Auld. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

While the cost of living continues to hit Australians hard, Auld said salary caps remained a sound mechanism of keeping the game accessible, adding the “AFL continues to remove costs” wherever possible.

“If you don’t have salary caps then clubs get into this mentality of a bit of an arms race, and then one of the ways they raise funds is jacking up prices to be a member of a club, so it just gets out of hand,” he said.

“Salary caps and points are so critical to maintaining a ceiling and some guidelines around what clubs are paying and how much players are being paid.

“A couple of years ago, it was $49.50 to be a registered coach, we removed that. We used to charge country clubs affiliation fees and we don’t charge that anymore.”

There’s a wary optimism about the state of the community game, with an increase in participation across the past 12 months.

“We’re pleased with where we are in 2024 versus the same time last year, but we’re certainly not in a position where we’re thinking every club and league in Victoria or Australia is fine and there’s not challenges,” Auld said.

“We feel really positive about the future of our game and we feel positive that we still offer a wonderful experience for families and people like you and me to go and support our local clubs.”

Don’t miss your 16-page 2024 Local Footy lift-out only in the Sunday Herald Sun on March 31.