West Australian Football Commission
 | |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Western Australia |
| Abbreviation | WAFC |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Tuart Hill, Western Australia |
| Chairman | Wayne Martin |
| CEO | Michael Roberts |
| Official website | |
| wafootball | |
 | |
The West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) is the governing body of Australian rules football in the state of Western Australia. The organisation is registered as a not-for-profit association.[1]
The WAFC assists in administering the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and is the owner of Australian Football League (AFL) teams Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles.[1]
History[edit]
Football in Western Australia was broke in the late 1980s and reliant on State Government handouts. State sports minister, Graham Edwards, demanded changes to the game's administrative structure, which led to the establishment of the WAFC in 1989. Future Hall of Famer Peter Tannock was chair of the WAFC for its first 10 years.[2]
When the WAFC was formed, the Eagles were insolvent and unsuccessful, the WAFL was in serious trouble and Subiaco Oval needed an overhaul desperately. By 1991, the Eagles and WAFL were rescued from financial ruin and planning began for a second WA AFL team. Both the Eagles and Dockers had $4 million upfront licence fees upon joining the AFL, which attributed to the financial troubles of the WAFC.[3]
In 2020, a parliamentary committee inquiry into the WAFC was established[2][4] after it was revealed that a third of its revenue went to commission staff payments.[5] Sports Minister Mick Murray had concerns that not enough money was being spent on grassroots football by the WAFC.[6] The WAFC sought to make drastic spending cuts following the revelations[5] but the organisation defended its staff structure and salaries.[6] As of 2020, the State Government provided $11 million a year to the WAFC as part of the proceeds from Optus Stadium.[5] The inquiry found that the Eagles and Dockers had "too much power" in deciding the make-up of the WAFC board and the election of commissioners had to be reformed to be more representative of community football.[7][8]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "About Us". West Australian Football Commission. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
- ^ a b Law, Peter (2 September 2020). "Former State sports minister Graham Edwards adds to outrage over WA Football Commission". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ King, Rhianna (26 September 2013). "Growing pains long and hard". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ Law, Peter (25 June 2020). "Parliamentary inquiry announced into WA Football Commission following salary scandal". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Townsend, John (12 June 2020). "WA Football Commission set to make drastic spending cuts after staff payment leaks". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b de Kruijff, Peter (19 August 2020). "WA Football Commission inquiry: Chairman Wayne Martin slams staff number 'speculation'". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ de Kruijff, Peter (12 November 2020). "Inquiry calls for Eagles and Dockers' power over WA football to be reined in". WAtoday. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ Law, Peter (12 November 2020). "Parliamentary inquiry finds Eagles, Dockers have 'too much power' and WAFC board election must be reformed". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.