WAFL FINANCIALS WRAP: Swan Districts Football Club recorded another season in the black, posting a net surplus of $66,382 in 2024 – ensuring the club’s total equity reached $1.9 million.
Swan Districts Football Club recorded another season in the black, posting a net surplus of $66,382 in 2024 – ensuring the club’s total equity reached $1.9 million.
This result was down from the Swans’ net surplus of $89,855 in 2023.
Under the guidance of longstanding chief executive Jeff Dennis, Swans’ revenue hit $5.47 million as of October 31 2024, spurred on sizeable gains in its commercial operations and community program income streams.
While generating $2.1 million of income from its wide-sweeping community programs, the black and whites incurred nearly $1.9 million in expenses – an increase of $298,754 from the prior corresponding period.
In recent correspondence with club members, Swans revealed its social impact data from 2024, which included 17,062 session attendees and 5056 hours of mentoring to participants.
With both its WAFL league and WAFLW teams qualifying for finals, coupled its participation in the Perth Football League Integrated and WA Wheelchair Football League competitions, Swans also reaped the benefits of large attendances at its home games.
Of its 10 league matches held at Steel Blue Oval throughout the season, including its preliminary final against Peel Thunder, the black and whites attracted more than 2000 spectators eight times.
Its two highest attendances – 7192 against the Thunder and 4,555 against South Fremantle for John Todd’s memorial service – also occurred on weekends when the Midland train line was fully closed for trackwork.
Swans generated $443,434 in bar sales, up from $358,020 in 2023, while catering and merchandise sales also rose, ensuring total gross sales of $710,333, up from $522,657 during the prior corresponding period.
Overall, the club yielded a total bar and functions income of $408,286, climbing by $101,093 from the previous year.
Royals post consecutive surpluses
East Perth Football Club recorded its second positive financial result on the bounce, yielding a net surplus of $13,556 – down from $32,344 in 2023.
The Dean Turner-led Royals, which play at Sullivan Logistics Stadium in Leederville alongside fellow co-tenant Subiaco, increased their revenue by $74,931 to $2.6 million last season.
This rise was predominantly due to higher sponsorship revenue, which jumped from $607,534 to $670,463, while bar takings also climbed by $49,148 to $230,963.
East Perth benefited from hosting a league second semifinal clash against Swan Districts, which their 11.6 (72) to 6.8 (44) victory played in front of 5223 spectators.
This result ensured a direct path to the grand final at Optus Stadium, with the Royals going down to Peel Thunder by 33 points.
Overall, the club has a total equity of more than $1.7 million.
During the off-season, former Seven West Media chief executive Chris Wharton concluded his tenure as a director on the club’s board – with former player and Paywise chief executive Frank Agostino, Geoff Bailey and longstanding director Joe Barbaro elected unopposed for two-year terms.
Perth still in equitable position
Despite posting a net loss of $24,768 for the 2024 season, the Perth Football Club’s total equity sits at $888,972, down from $913,740 in 2023.
Perth has dominated a number of WAFL storylines during the off-season, predominantly due to a number of arrivals and a key departure.
Aside from securing the services of long-term AFL assistant coach Mark Stone as league coach for 2025, the Demons also appointed Brad Dodd as general manager of football, following a successful stint at East Fremantle.
In late-November, the club’s board and chief executive Russell Clark mutually agreed to part ways.
Falcons debt-free
While the West Perth Football Club finished with a reduced net surplus of $25,186 – down from $51,883 from the 2023 season – there was a much more significant aspect to the club’s overall financial position.
During 2024, the Falcons fully paid off their $104,220 loan off from the West Australian Football Commission, ensuring the club became debt-free heading into 2025.
In conversation with Business News last year, West Perth chief executive Joe McCarthy said companies such as BGC, Delta Lithium and Rio Tinto had provided substantial WAFLW sponsorship, which not only aided the club’s female pathway but also its overall viability.
The Falcons generated $708,374 in sponsorship for the season, an increase of $69,420 from the previous year.
