THE future of many community sport administrators remains uncertain as the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect sporting codes across Australia.
No sport has been spared with Cricket Victoria, the AFL, NRL and Tennis Australia all feeling the impact, forced to stand down staff in the wake of COVID-19.
But you have to ask yourself what has happened to the millions of dollars, and in some cases billions, received by these sports through sponsorship and media rights.
Where has all the money gone?
I don’t think I’m the only person who is wondering what has happened to all the cash.
To think we are even talking about the financial viability of these codes is laughable given the amount of money that has been poured into them over the past decade.
It’s even more frustrating when it’s community sports that have been stripped of their development officers and other key staff critical to the advancement of the game at grassroots level.
Sunraysia will remain without a football development officer, although new AFL Victoria area manager Don Harley has remained on the books on reduced hours.
Harley’s retention has been one positive in an otherwise bleak time.
Having a conduit between AFL Victoria and the local football leagues has at least provided some clarity during this difficult period and enabled clubs to be kept up-to-date on changes to any guidelines.
But in saying that, it is still frustrating to think so much money has been wasted on excessive expenditure, not least on staff salaries for people at head office.
You only have to look at the staffing levels within AFL Victoria and the AFL to see where the money has been going.
When the Victorian Country Football League succumbed to years of lobbying by the AFL to fall under their banner, we were all told the game at community level would prosper from the support of the AFL.
Sure, there has been plenty of cash thrown at country footy, but has it really helped the game and is it any better off than when it operated as the VCFL, run by a board made up of country football people who all had one thing in common, the viability and expansion of the game at country level?
It seems to me since AFL Victoria has gained control of country football the game in the bush has lost direction.
The focus has been more about gaining control of leagues than providing support.
In Sunraysia, we have continued to maintain our integrity and independence by refusing to become part of AFL Victoria’s Regional Administration Centre (RAC).
It will be interesting to see what happens around the rest of the state with the RAC when the coronavirus threat is over.
A number of football leagues across Victoria have been expressing their concern about how AFL Victoria was managing country football before COVID-19.
Maybe it is time for all country football and netball competitions across the state to unite and receive a stronger voice at the AFL Victoria board table.
There are commissions in place who are meant to serve that role, but maybe country clubs would be better off by having league presidents represent them at this level.
AFL Victoria’s focus is on football, yet in country Victoria we are football and netball clubs and, when making decisions, club officials need to consider how both sports will be impacted.
