AFL commits to developing more than 250 new club ovals over five years

The AFL Commission’s recent advice that it will commit 10% of gross League revenue to the sport at community-level, is set to see a remarkable level of investment into community and club facilities.

A less reported aspect of the AFL’s $4.5 billion seven-year deal with Foxtel and Seven West Media, the proportion of income from the television and digital rights deal will be committed across school-based programs, facilities and funded development officers.

AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said the “historic” amount of funding would grow the game as it rebounds from the pandemic by supporting more volunteers, providing online resources for local clubs, developing new game formats for smaller teams and clubs with limited space.

It will also have an emphasis on growth in the female game and encouraging children and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to take up the sport.

McLachlan stated “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.

“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.”

Developing a new oval per week, every week for five years
Rob Auld, the AFL’s Executive General Manager of Game Development also committed to new ovals being built under the “groundbreaking” investment, advising “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.”

AFL Victoria Local Government Forum
Staged last week, the AFL Victoria Local Government Forum saw the League explain details of this vision, sharing its strategic plans for the future.

At the Forum, the AFL advised that playing numbers have returned to pre-COVID level and that the game's growth is outpacing the capacity of facilities.

Looking forward it sees "significant growth" in numbers, particularly among female participants.

Lower image: Presentation at last week's AFL Victoria Local Government Forum.