This year’s return to GMHBA Stadium for the GFNL Grand Final may prove a once-off after AFL Barwon took a financial hit on the league’s showpiece event.
Despite attracting more than 10,000 people to the Kardinia Park precinct, what K rock Football understands to be unexpected costs contributed to a significant loss by the local governing body for the season.
Commissioner Mick Overman, who delivered the financial report at tonight’s (Wednesday) AGM, said AFL Barwon was “unable to make the day satisfactorily profitable” as it returned to the venue for the first time since 2019.
A return to a community facility won’t result in a change of date, with the GFNL grand finals
to again be played on the AFL Grand Final public holiday.
Overall, AFL Barwon posted a $170,564 loss, well up on its deficit of $34,272 last year.
The large crowd for the GFNL football and netball deciders helped increase finals income from $351,519 to $423,251.
However, the expense for finals this year climbed to $244,006, a more than $80,000 jump from last year’s $161,900.
A more than $290,000 increase in employee costs and wages and an $85,000 reduction in merchandise sales also impacted the bottom line.
Overman revealed an internal structural review will be undertaken as AFL Barwon looks to improve its financial position in 2025.
X: @krockfootball
