SANFL Annual General Meeting Summary

[Wedgie]

MEDIA RELEASE
SANFL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
• Commission reappointments – David Shipway and Jamie Coppins
• SANFL Life Memberships – Trevor Jaques, John Robinson, Colin Rowston,
Tim Cook and Tim Weatherald
• 200 Club ‘be active’ Star Player of the Year and RO Shearman Medallist
• 2006 SANFL Year in Review including Financials

This evening’s Annual General Meeting of the South Australian National Football League saw the
reappointment of Commissioners David Shipway and Jamie Coppins. Both gentlemen have been long
serving members of the SA Football Commission and have both been appointed for a further 2 year
term.

DAVID SHIPWAY
• SA Football Commissioner 1997 – Present
• Chairman – Affiliated Leagues Council 2006 – Present
• President – West Adelaide Football Club 1990 – 1994
• Chairman – West Adelaide Management Committee 1988 – 1989

JAMIE COPPINS
• SA Football Commissioner 1995 – Present
• Chief Executive – North Adelaide Football Club 1992 – 1995
• SANFL Director 1992 – 1995
• Chairman – North Adelaide FC Board 1985 – 1991
• Deputy Chairman & Selectors – North Adelaide FC 1974 – 1984
• Player – North Adelaide Football Club 1963 - 1971

SANFL LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Five recipients received SANFL Life Membership and acknowledgement during formalities of the AGM
Dinner. League Life Memberships were awarded to Trevor Jaques and John Robinson for their
longstanding contribution and service to football. Umpire Life Membership was awarded to Colin
Rowston and Player Life Membership recipients were Tim Cook and Tim Weatherald.

TREVOR JAQUES
• Adelaide Football Club Training Services Manager 1993 – Present
• Adelaide Football Club Fitness Coach & Selector 1991 – 1993
• SANFL Lecturer - Coaching & Sports Medicine 1983 – 1989
• Fitness Coach – SA State Team 1986 – 1988
• Fitness Coach – Glenelg Football Club 1984 – 1990
• Fitness Coach – Norwood Football Club 1974 – 1980
• Fitness Coach – Woodville Football Club 1968 – 1969
• Umpire – SA Secondary Schools Sports Association 1969 – 1978
• Coach – Teachers College 1971 – 1972
• Coach – SASSSA Under 19 Team 1969 – 1970
• Coach – High School Teams 1965 – 1969
• State Amateur League Player 1963 – 1964
• State School Under 14 Player 1956

JOHN ROBINSON
• SANFL Football Development Foundation 1995 – 2005
• SANFL Club Service Award 2000
• Chairman – SASFA Executive 1994 – 2005
• Glenelg Football Club Board Member 1985 – 1993
• Glenelg Management Committee 1974 – 1996
• Player – Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club 1954 – 1956
• Player – Glenelg Football Club 1957 – 1959

COLIN ROWSTON
• SANFL League Field Umpire 1996 – Present
• AFL Field Umpire for 33 games 2002 – 2004
• SANFL Grand Final Field Umpire 1999 & 2001
• SANFL Umpiring debut 1992
• Life Membership – Umpires Association 2006

TIM COOK
• Player – North Adelaide Football Club 2001 – 2005
• North Adelaide Best & Fairest Award 2001
• Player – Central District Football Club 1991 – 2000
• SA State Team Selection 1996
• Adelaide Football Club listed player 1997 & 1998

TIM WEATHERALD
• Player – Sturt Football Club 1995 – Present
• SANFL Magarey Medal 2002
• SANFL Premiership Player for Sturt FC 2002
• Sturt Best & Fairest Award 2002

200 CLUB ‘be active’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND RO SHEARMAN MEDALLIST
Woodville-West Torrens champion Justin Cicolella was recognised for his consistent 2006 season by
winning the 200 Club ‘be active’ Star Player of the Year Award and RO Shearman Medal. This award
was judged by members of the SANFL’s 200 Club. Justin was presented with his medal and prize
cheque at last year’s Magarey Medal Presentation Dinner, by Fran Shearman.
JUSTIN CICOLELLA
• Player – Woodville-West Torrens Football Club 1998 – Present
• Premiership Player & Acting Captain 2006
• Woodville-West Torrens Best & Fairest Award 2002 & 2003
• Adelaide Football Club listed player 2000 & 2001

2006 SANFL YEAR IN REVIEW
Following a strong and successful 2006 SANFL season, Executive Commissioner Mr Leigh Whicker
stated “we look back on 2006 and seasons past with a sense of pride in our achievements. We have a
code that is vibrant at the local State and national levels. We have plans in place to protect that
vibrancy and capitalise on opportunities to bring about further growth. And we have a very significant
asset here at AAMI Stadium that we plan to further enhance in the years ahead for the benefit of our
State as a whole. We look ahead to 2007 with confidence, enthusiasm and expectation”.
Mr Whicker made mention of the nine League Clubs as contributors to the success of the 2006 season.
“The success of the season is a tribute to the continued efforts of all nine League Clubs who have
collectively worked to ensure decisions were made in the best interests of the game”.
SANFL President, Mr Rod Payze said “it is fair to say the League and the game in this State has never
been in better shape. 2006 is the twenty second consecutive year in which the League has achieved its
budget. We believe our achievements in 2006 fairly reflect our role in the community as a significant
sporting code and a significant contributor to our State’s economy”.

Attendance & TV Viewing
Over 309,000 footy fans attended SANFL matches during season 2006. This represents a 2.3%
growth in attendance from season 2005.
An audience of 1.4 million viewers tuned into ABC TV throughout season 2006, to see a weekly
broadcast of SANFL matches.

SANFL Season Launch
The SANFL Season Launch saw the unveiling of the League’s 2006 marketing campaign “Local Footy
– Keeping it Real”. This tag line set the scene for a strong promotion of man-on-man physical
football and fast flowing, attacking action.

AIS-AFL Academy Squad
Five young South Australian players represented Australia in the AIS-AFL Academy Squad which
defeated Ireland in the Under 17 International Rules Series. Glenelg players Bryce Gibbs, James
Sellar and Mark Austin, Chris Schmidt of West Adelaide and Zac Millar of North Adelaide were the five
South Australian representatives in the Academy.
Four of these five players were later selected by AFL Clubs in the AFL National Draft.
Bob Quinn Medallist
In the traditional Anzac Day Grand Final clash, the Eagles ran out winners by 23 points over Central
District.
The Eagles’ Mark Passador was awarded the Bob Quinn Medal for his best afield performance.

State Clash
120 years of State Pride was preserved as the West End SA State Team fought hard to take bragging
rights over Western Australia at Adelaide Oval.
This victory saw the Croweaters’ ninth victory in the past ten interstate clashes which reaffirmed the
SANFL’s claim of being the premier State League competition.
The Fos Williams Medal was presented to Daniel Schell for his outstanding 6 goal performance.

Footy For Gladstone Appeal
In response to the Gladstone tragedy, AFL Commissioner Bob Hammond grouped together some of
South Australia’s greatest football legends and local companies, to launch the “Footy For Gladstone”
Appeal.
Running from May through to October, the Appeal raised in excess of $570,000 to assist the families
affected by the munitions factory blast.
A major lottery was run with the Hon Paul Caica, Minister for Employment, Training & Further
Education, Youth and Gambling drawing the major prize winner at the SANFL ‘be active’ League
Grand Final.
SANFL’s “Living in the 70’s” Round
Round 17 saw the SANFL return to the 70’s. Often referred to as the golden era of South Australian
football, the SANFL hosted the “Living in the 70’s” theme round. Fans crowded suburban grounds
dressed in 70’s threads, played 70’s music and paid tribute to a great era of footy.

Under 18 National Championships
The Under 18 National Championships were held in Melbourne during July. The South Australian
Tip Top Under 18 team finished third in the division one series.
The NAB Most Valuable Player for SA was awarded to Glenelg’s Bryce Gibbs. The Croweaters’
captain, Tom Hurley (Sturt) and deputy captain, Bryce Gibbs, were both later selected in the 2006
Under 18 All-Australian Team.

Under 16 National Championships
The NAB AFL Under 16 Championships were played in Brisbane in July. South Australia finished
second in the series to Vic Metro.
West Adelaide’s Hamish Hartlett was awarded the Kevin Sheehan Medal whilst Bradley Ebert was
awarded the NAB Most Valuable Player for South Australia.

South Australian Football Hall of Fame
Eight football greats were inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame at a
presentation dinner held at AAMI Stadium in August. The eight new inductees now join an elite
group of 142 football legends in the Hall of Fame.
The 2006 SA Football Hall of Fame inductees:
• Craig Bradley
• John Forrester MBE *
• Darren Jarman
• Rick Kinnear
• John Lynch
• Shaun Rehn
• Neville Roberts
• Robert Simunsen
* Deceased

Magarey Medal
After a number of years at AAMI Stadium, the South Australian National Football League changed
venue and hosted the 2006 Magarey Medal Presentation Dinner at the Adelaide Convention
Centre, in front of a record crowd.
The SANFL named Glenelg star Brett Backwell as the 2006 Magarey Medallist. Channel 9 again
broadcast a live telecast of the medal count.
Other medal winners on the night included:
• Ken Farmer Medallist (Sir James Leading Goalkicker) – Mark Passador (Eagles)
• Reserves Magarey Medal – Ryan Lewis (Norwood)
• Under 19’s Tomkins Medal – Samuel McDonald (West Adelaide)
• Under 17’s McCallum Medal – Jack Bampton (Norwood)

Jack Oatey Medallist
Former Eagle Hayden Skipworth was awarded the Jack Oatey Medal for the player judged best
afield in the 2006 SANFL ‘be active’ League Grand Final.

Participation
2006 saw increasing results across the areas of State League and Game Development:
• 3.5% increase in minor round attendances
• 2.8% increase in total participants
• 0.5% increase in AFL Auskick participants
• 5.3% increase in Aussie Footy participants
• 2% increase in Youth Footy participants
• 832 Level 1 Coaching Course participants
• 10.6% increase in Umpires recruited
• Competitive Under 16 & 18 State Team performances
• 15 players drafted to AFL Clubs
• 6 players rookie listed to AFL Clubs

AFL Draft
Following a successful 2006 SANFL season, the League saw twelve local players drafted to AFL
Clubs in the AFL National Draft. The pre-season draft saw the inclusion of one more South
Australian onto an AFL Club list.
Glenelg’s Bryce Gibbs topped selection in being the number one pick in the National Draft. A
further three South Australians were selected in the top thirty draft picks. A fantastic result for
the young talent born and bred in SA.
The success of the 2006 AFL National Draft certifies the statement of South Australia being the
best State League in producing some of the best up and coming young talent the draft has seen.

Financial Performance
2006 saw the League generate a record profit of $16.84 million as a result of strong management
and budgeting, plus capital grants received from the State Government. The money received
from the grant will help create a foundation towards the proposed future upgrade of AAMI
Stadium. $5.5 million will be spent towards a major security upgrade and an additional
superscreen. A further $6.6 million was a lump sum settlement of a long term commitment by
the State Government to assist with funding improvements towards the Northern Grandstand.
The profits made from season 2006 ensured each SANFL Club of received a $412,000 Club
Football Development Grant. This equates to a 3% increase on grants received from season
2005. In addition, the League paid administrative grants and sponsor monies in excess of $1
million.
Overall, the League is currently sitting in a financially sound position to ensure the planned future
developments of AAMI Stadium take place.

[am Bays]

Cangratulations to Robbo one of the unsung heros at Glenelg a deserved honour for a Great of Glenelg.

Congrats too to Colin Rowston ....

[Adelaide Hawk]

SANFL President, Mr Rod Payze said “it is fair to say the League and the game in this State has never been in better shape

Curious comment. I hope he was referring to the era since 1991, otherwise I would debate that.

[topsywaldron]

SANFL’s “Living in the 70’s” Round
Round 17 saw the SANFL return to the 70’s. Often referred to as the golden era of South Australian
football, the SANFL hosted the “Living in the 70’s” theme round. Fans crowded suburban grounds
dressed in 70’s threads, played 70’s music and paid tribute to a great era of footy.

Held in the dead of winter and competing with a Crows game on television.

Genius move Mr. Anderson.

[SimonH]

SANFL President, Mr Rod Payze said “it is fair to say the League and the game in this State has never been in better shape

Curious comment. I hope he was referring to the era since 1991, otherwise I would debate that.

Whether 'the League' has never been in better shape depends on whether he's talking about the corporate entity SANFL (quite possibly true) or the competition called the SANFL (no way).

If you're going on crowd figures alone, though, the game in the state has probably never been in better shape. All-time SANFL record attendance was apparently around 1,150,000 (1972). The combined SANFL/Crows/Pahhhr attendances now would safely beat that, and I guess would also beat the combined levels from 1997 when the Pahhhr was formed.

The question-mark is over their scope for future expansion. It's limited by:
a) SANFL-- problems with increasing patronage are often commented on, in this forum
b) Crows-- any substantial expansion of Footy Park's capacity would be fiendishly expensive
c) Port Power-- existing supporter base already fully deployed, and existing culture (i.e. supporters of other 8 SANFL teams grew up hating Port and aren't about to change), coupled with small population growth in Adelaide, meaning there'll be limited 'natural' increase in the number of Power fans
d) New AFL club-- Decades off, if at all. AFL has committed to western Sydney and Gold Coast as its expansion/Vic team relocation priorities, both of which will take about 10 years to realise and then at least 10 years to digest. Following which, WA with its higher population, and far higher population growth rate, would be next in line if any new clubs from traditional footy states were to join.

[spell_check]

I have some games missing from 1947-74 however, and 1992-99 have the curtain raiser games.