TOPIC:

Talking to yourself there Grassy? Or are the voices back lol

I think your focus on what the AFL clubs can or can't afford is wrong.

The long term survival of the WAFL is heavily dependant on the financial success of both WA based AFL teams under the current setup. I've said it a number of times before but whilst the WAFL clubs continue to go to the WAFC with cup in hand looking for financial assistance every year then what you are asking for will never occur.

Did any of the WAFL clubs make a profit that was above the level of funding provided by the WAFC? I suspect like nearly every other year some clubs made small losses with others making only moderate profits? Take away the WAFC funding provided by the AFL teams then most, if not all clubs would be forced to shut their doors.

As WAFL supporters the question we all should be asking our respective club boards is what short and long term strategies do they have in place to run the clubs successfully without requiring any financial assistance from the WAFC?

Eliminate the WAFL clubs financial dependency on the WA based AFL clubs and you might get what you want!

Well said RedLegs.

Read the srticle again Grassy. They receive no financial compensation from this change.

RedLegs wrote: I think your focus on what the AFL clubs can or can't afford is wrong.

The long term survival of the WAFL is heavily dependant on the financial success of both WA based AFL teams under the current setup. I've said it a number of times before but whilst the WAFL clubs continue to go to the WAFC with cup in hand looking for financial assistance every year then what you are asking for will never occur.

Did any of the WAFL clubs make a profit that was above the level of funding provided by the WAFC? I suspect like nearly every other year some clubs made small losses with others making only moderate profits? Take away the WAFC funding provided by the AFL teams then most, if not all clubs would be forced to shut their doors.

As WAFL supporters the question we all should be asking our respective club boards is what short and long term strategies do they have in place to run the clubs successfully without requiring any financial assistance from the WAFC?

Eliminate the WAFL clubs financial dependency on the WA based AFL clubs and you might get what you want!

Redlegs I am sure that all clubs are trying to diversify their income streams. However, it is very difficult for the WAFL clubs to be able to compete on a level playing field with the WA domiciled AFL clubs in conjunction with the Channel 7/The West/Sunday Times media empire. I will point out that Claremont lost a major sponsor due to the payment required to telecast the WAFL matches.

By the way it is patently ridiculous to expect the WAFL clubs not to get a dividend from the two WA domiciled AFL clubs. They OWE that to the WAFL clubs and competition.

Perhaps JD62 can enlighten all WAFL clubs' boards the best revenue streams that are available to them.

Spot on Swan42. The fact is the 2 WA AFL clubs would not exist and would never of got of the ground if not for the WAFL and the players who come out of this comp.
I suppose they could of recruited their original teams from the VFL LOL

Anyway between the AFL clubs and the WAFC they have totally destroyed our Grass roots comp.

The WAFL is dead.

Cardy....nice to hear from you mate.

Exactly right swan, these pricks should never forget where they came from. They should be pumping more $ into the WAFL clubs if the truth be known...

A WA based team in a national competition was always going to exist and so was a second, just look at how much time and money has been invested by the AFL to get 2 teams up in the non-traditional football states.

I've never suggested that the WAFL clubs shouldn't receive funding from the WA based AFL clubs through the WAFC but it concerns me that there is an expectation that WAFL clubs are owed the money. We need to address the big issue of why the WAFL clubs are so heavily dependant on this funding for their survival and how to remedy it. The changing face of WA footy means that this funding may not always be available and the WAFL clubs need to change their business model.

Ideas that need to be considered:
- implementation of an effective player points system, the current system is too easily manipulated by the wealthier clubs.
- reduce the salary cap to a level which is sustainable
- look at the viability of the Reserves competition. I'm not sure the benefit outweighs the costs associated with it.
- better use of social media to engage new members and supporters. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat etc have little to no cost associated with them and often have a better draw than mainstream media. none of the clubs do it well and the WAFL is terrible.
- increase non-matchday usage of the clubs by other groups.
- reduce entry costs/free entry to matches to increase attendance and look to make the lost gate revenue back through increased bar, canteen and merchandise sales.

If the WAFL can become a sustainable competition independent of WAFC funding then not only will it survive, it will become strong again. The current model doesn't work so some short term pain will need to be endured.

good posts all: the Wafl is in a lot better shape than the SANFL and the so-called VFL, it has not been destroyed.

anchorman wrote: Remembering that in 1986, the WAFL and most clubs were broke.No money, the VFL was bleeding the local competition dry of players.
I was not in favour of the joining the VFL, but how would the supporters of the WAFL clubs have felt had your club gone broke and had to dissolve.South and East becoming Fremantle!!!!!!!Heaven forbid.Swans and Perth becoming Perth Swans!!!!!East Perth West Perth becoming Garlic Royals!!!!Claremont Subi becoming Hand bag Browns and yellas.
Yep the WAFL is destroyed, but would have been anyway.

Seriously A/man? Surely you are not suggesting that there were more WALF players playing in the VFL then than the number of WAFL players playing in the AFL now?

The VFL were parasites then and the AFL are parasites now. What is the track record of the VFL/AFL in destroying other Aussie Rules competitions? The VFL and VFA in Victoria; virtually the decimation of the Tasmanian Aussie Rules competitons and the virtually bastardisation of the WAFL and SANFL competitions. What a magnificent record for such an august body that purports to want to develop Aussie Rules.

As for their track record in Sydney, what have they achieved? Speaking to a couple from the 'Gong that are Canberra-based GWS members at the tennis last week the answer is very little. In terms of exposure in the Sydney papers, it is very limited and one needs to go many pages into the papers to find any articles and they are virtually limited to articles about Sydney and GWS in the main.