Just seeing this on the Herald sun newspaper. Does any of this money spill over to SA or is the AFL just using funds to improve Victorian facilities.
New ovals to be built weekly in AFL cash splashThe AFL will pump millions more into community footy each year thanks to a spike in broadcasting revenue, with new ovals to be built each week.
A record cash injection will see millions of extra dollars pumped into local footballevery year.
The AFL commission on Sunday announced that it will invest a further $17m into community football in 2023.
The boost lifts annual funding from the AFL’s revenue from eight to 10 per cent, marking a 35 per cent uptick on this year’s $50m investment.
Volunteers, umpires, coaches, players and clubs are all set to benefit from the $67m initiative, which rose amid the AFL’s projections of spiking broadcast and commercial revenue.
Under the multimillion-dollar pledge, at least 10 per cent of the league’s annual revenue must be poured into grassroots clubs from next year.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the “historic” amount of funding would grow the game around the country by supporting more volunteers after its strong rebound from strict Covid regulations and periods in lockdown.
“While the game has rebounded strongly, it has still been tough for many of the volunteers who power our game and we recognise that more support is needed,” he said.
“This is the single biggest commitment ever to community football and it means that as broadcast and commercial revenue continues to grow so does the AFL’s commitment to supporting every level of community football from Auskick all the way through to the talent pathways programs.
“Footy means so much to so many people in communities right across the country and we have a vitally important role to play in protecting and growing the game for everyone involved, especially the volunteers, while ensuring more people in more places at more times can experience and enjoy our game.”
A panel will be established to oversee the cash splash, which is designed to boost the rising number of girls playing football and encourage kids and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to take up the sport.
More than 480,000 players registered for the league’s introductory program Auskick this year.
Part of the additional funding will also go towards online resources for local clubs and revised game formats for smaller teams and clubs with limited space.
The league’s executive game development general manager Rob Auld said new ovals would be built each week under the “groundbreaking” investment.
“Through this investment the AFL can take its support for community football to a new level and address challenges and opportunities associated with engaging new participants, creating inclusive environments, making it easier to participate and volunteer and developing a new oval per week, every week for five years.
“This is incredibly exciting for the game and the hundreds of thousands of Australians who are involved in and love community football.”
It comes after the league dedicated a further $8m earlier this year to bring community football back following the lockdowns.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victo ... erallPos=2