Positive signs as SANFL emerges from COVID challenges

Effective cost management and an increase in Adelaide Oval crowds have helped SANFL rebound stronger from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SANFL has today released its 2022 Financial Results showing the League recorded positive cash earnings of $1.02 million against a forecast budgeted loss.

The favourable 2022 cash earnings result follows a cumulative cash loss from 2019 to 2021 of $1.58 million, as a result of COVID-19.

The $1.02 million cash result was largely attributable to one-off savings in the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority, which directly reduced the service fee charged to SANFL to cover stadium costs.

Without these one-off items, SANFL would have posted a small cash loss. Improved net returns from Adelaide Oval as attendances rebounded slowly during 2022 also buoyed the result.

Following employee stand downs in the 2020 financial year, SANFL’s workforce returned to near pre-Covid levels with competitions running as normal in 2022.

Prudent financial decisions throughout the COVID-19 affected period held SANFL in good stead to increase distributions to State League clubs by 6% in 2022, compared to 2021. The distributions included specific funding for State League clubs to increase resources for female football.

SA Football Commission Chair The Hon. Rob Kerin released the financial results at tonight’s SANFL AGM at Adelaide Oval.

“SANFL continues to be financially prudent when managing its operations, in an improving but still difficult economic environment,” Mr Kerin said.

“SANFL is budgeting a cash surplus for 2023 but that will be heavily dependent on more people walking through the gates of Adelaide Oval this AFL season and for major events.

“Significant increases in operating costs at Adelaide Oval, due to global economic conditions, will also weigh heavily on our ambitions for a surplus in 2023.

“Despite the headwinds in the broader economy, SANFL is well positioned to continue investing strategically, implement new initiatives and grow the game of football in South Australia.”