SANFL 2025

[southernbulldog]

Unfortunately for West if thats all they have how can they keep going ?

[Ronnie]

West's President and CEO have resigned as well i think, it can't be a good time down there. I would think the SANFL are keeping an eye on things closely.
Sometimes clubs need a bit of luck too, as when someone bequested to Sturt a million dollars recently.

[MW]

Was just reading the West Adelaide 2024 Annual Report on their website.

The football club had a net deficit of -$212,514 for 2024 and only had $598 in cash and cash equivalents

That is a good year compared to most.

[Jimmy_041]

West's President and CEO have resigned as well i think, it can't be a good time down there. I would think the SANFL are keeping an eye on things closely.
Sometimes clubs need a bit of luck too, as when someone bequested to Sturt a million dollars recently.

I have always found it intriguing how many Westies blokes are in command in the SANFL

A big Hail Mary (guess) here - aren't the Westonians or Wolfpack propping up the club?

[dedja]

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/we ... e4c0ea01b3

SANFL 2025: West Adelaide Football Club at crossroads

SANFL club West Adelaide is at the crossroads, with its president and chief executive gone, a hefty quarter-of-a-million dollar loss about to be announced to members and doubts over the sustainability of its licensed club facilities at Richmond Oval.

While the Bloods avoided the SANFL wooden spoon for the first time in six seasons last year, finishing eighth, they are financially challenged and needing urgent redevelopment of their ground to keep up with competition tall poppies Norwood, Sturt and Glenelg and remain sustainable.

The mini-crisis has seen West female football director Alison Surjan - wife of North Adelaide coach Jacob Surjan - step in as interim president.

With the support of the SANFL, she is involved in the search for a new CEO following the resignation of the highly-respected Conny Wilson in December.

President Emma Grigson followed six weeks later.

SANFL chief executive Darren Chandler, a former Bloods league player, said the league would help West get back on its feet, noting the club is “a very important part of the SANFL competition’’.

“Obviously it’s not ideal when you lose key personnel, however Alison has stepped up as interim president and is doing a really good job of pulling things together,’’ Chandler said.

“We (the SANFL) are working with the club to help them find their next CEO and make sure we get the right person on board to carry on the work that Conny was doing.

“We will help them through this period and, more importantly, try to help them become a sustainable footy club which is here for the long haul.

“It is not easy for a SANFL club, financially some clubs are better off than others, and Westies have been challenged in recent years.

“We are in the business of helping our clubs and we are working really hard with them to try to build a sustainable model.’’

West finished bottom from 2019-23 and hasn’t played finals since its last premiership in 2015.

It has shown signs of on-field life under coach Adam Hartlett in the past two seasons, finishing eighth last year with a 5-13 win-loss record.

It also has been a big producer of AFL talent, with Adelaide’s Izak Rankine and Riley Thilthorpe and Hawthorn’s Will Day being top-13 selections from 2018-20.

“Adam Hartlett and football manager Paul Streatfield have done a terrific job from a football perspective, focusing on their junior program and bringing young kids through, which is really pleasing, so there is some good, positive stuff happening there,’’ Chandler said.

But the club is struggling financially, having lost $254,164 last year (which will be announced to members at next Tuesday’s AGM) after recording an operating deficit of $360,397 in 2023.

West’s Richmond Oval headquarters are in dire need of an upgrade while its licensed club is not bringing in enough revenue, with the club revealing “the relocation of our gaming machines will be a significant priority for 2025’’.

Chandler said the league and Bloods were working closely with West Torrens Council on a major redevelopment of Richmond Oval, which would ensure the club’s long-term survival.

“That’s really important and it needs to happen in the near future,’’ said Chandler, adding that improvements had already been made to the eastern side of the ground.

“That’s going to take support and significant investment from all levels of government, the SANFL, AFL and West Adelaide itself.

“The master plan looks impressive and includes the redevelopment of the grandstand, changerooms, administration and function areas, along with the surroundings around the oval to make it totally accessible for the community.

“The plan also includes the installation of other sporting facilities, so the community can use the venue as much as possible.’’

Chandler backed West’s desire to find a new “off-site’’ venue for its struggling licensed club and gaming facilities “like Norwood, the Eagles and North Adelaide have done so successfully’’.

“There are a whole range of things that are being looked at and are high priorities for the club, we are behind them and offering the necessary support,’’ he said.

[Booney]

Mt Barker Bloods.

[whufc]

Mt Barker Bloods.

As much as it would hurt the true westies people is there really a future in the western burbs of Adelaide. It kind of makes sense sadly.

[wenchbarwer]

Mt Barker Bloods.

Worked for Peel Thunder

[am Bays]

Mt Barker Bloods.

As much as it would hurt the true westies people is there really a future in the western burbs of Adelaide. It kind of makes sense sadly.

Five out of the last six SANFL flags have been won by Western Suburbs clubs, not sure it's the geography

[Booney]

Mt Barker Bloods.

As much as it would hurt the true westies people is there really a future in the western burbs of Adelaide. It kind of makes sense sadly.

Five out of the last six SANFL flags have been won by Western Suburbs clubs, not sure it's the geography

It's exactly why. Local sponsors aren't going to Milner Road to spend their money now are they?

[wenchbarwer]

I'm not convinced the finalisation of South Road is going to help much either. Yes, they get exposure to a main road, but a main road that is predominantly going to be an expressway, so you can look at Richmond Oval as you fly past at 80km

[am Bays]

Mt Barker Bloods.

As much as it would hurt the true westies people is there really a future in the western burbs of Adelaide. It kind of makes sense sadly.

Five out of the last six SANFL flags have been won by Western Suburbs clubs, not sure it's the geography

It's exactly why. Local sponsors aren't going to Milner Road to spend their money now are they?

Not 100% sure about your statements mate, they earned over $100K more in sponsorship than we did in 2023 and they increased their sponsorship again in 2024

[whufc]

Mt Barker Bloods.

As much as it would hurt the true westies people is there really a future in the western burbs of Adelaide. It kind of makes sense sadly.

Five out of the last six SANFL flags have been won by Western Suburbs clubs, not sure it's the geography

Talking more from a supporter base, sponsorship point of view.

What supporters are jumping on westies so they can start getting 1000 to a game. How their clubrooms going to be a big attraction on that side of town getting a larger share of the gambling, dining, hospitality $$$

[am Bays]

As much as it would hurt the true westies people is there really a future in the western burbs of Adelaide. It kind of makes sense sadly.

Five out of the last six SANFL flags have been won by Western Suburbs clubs, not sure it's the geography

Talking more from a supporter base, sponsorship point of view.

What supporters are jumping on westies so they can start getting 1000 to a game.

That's a more valid argument given based on their financial statement's sponsorship isn't their biggest issue compared to match day revenue (who turns up) and returns from their license club.

[Pseudo]

I'm not convinced the finalisation of South Road is going to help much either. Yes, they get exposure to a main road, but a main road that is predominantly going to be an expressway, so you can look at Richmond Oval as you fly past at 80km

Only if they paint the tunnel wall with vistas of the outside neighbourhod....

[whufc]

As much as it would hurt the true westies people is there really a future in the western burbs of Adelaide. It kind of makes sense sadly.

Five out of the last six SANFL flags have been won by Western Suburbs clubs, not sure it's the geography

Talking more from a supporter base, sponsorship point of view.

What supporters are jumping on westies so they can start getting 1000 to a game.

That's a more valid argument given based on their financial statement's sponsorship isn't their biggest issue compared to match day revenue (who turns up) and returns from their license club.

Yeah im not sure what an increase at Mt Barker would look like but lets say the first year is pretty.

They get an increase by 500 supporters to the game x by $20 spend each, your talking $10k extra a game through the doors x what 10 home games. $100k increase in just home game attendances.

Not sure thats the difference between survival or not but cant hurt.

[dogbox]

Just spitballing, but the reality is demographics change overtime, and West’s immediate location is not a middle class family with feeder schools. With commercial businesses and an airport next door will always restrict available supporters. The SANFL should look at relocating a side to the growth corridors out north and south. Realign the area west of Adelaide boundaries to feed ‘A’ club (whether that’s a merged west/WWT or WWT and Glenelg) .
Adelaide should be big enough to have 10 teams now (without Port and Crows). The SANFL should be looking to engage new suburbs and get kids active in that area.
Any how, we all know that’s easy to talk about and not consider the history of a club and the sacrifices made by passionate people.

[am Bays]

Just spitballing, but the reality is demographics change overtime, and West’s immediate location is not a middle class family with feeder schools. With commercial businesses and an airport next door will always restrict available supporters. The SANFL should look at relocating a side to the growth corridors out north and south. Realign the area west of Adelaide boundaries to feed ‘A’ club (whether that’s a merged west/WWT or WWT and Glenelg) .
Adelaide should be big enough to have 10 teams now (without Port and Crows). The SANFL should be looking to engage new suburbs and get kids active in that area.
Any how, we all know that’s easy to talk about and not consider the history of a club and the sacrifices made by passionate people.

West received a lot of Sturts old zone where their are kids (particularly round Murray Bridge) and Glenelg received the population dense airport....

I think you'll find the SANFL are well aware of ensuring the growth corridors of Adelaide and SA are covered by the eight clubs

Not sure we have the economy to have two extra SANFL clubs when if you're not turning over $5 Mill between the footy club and associated entities you are in trouble.

[Dutchy]

No Surprise South, Centrals and Sturt have had the strongest junior teams in recent years, have their metro zones and country zones almost as one and in the growth areas around the city.

[gazzamagoo]

Leave Richmond,
move to Thebarton & absorb/become the rows reserves but keep the West Adelaide name,
No more Crows reserves in the SANFL,