Western Bulldogs Chief Executive Simon Garlick says today’s 2014 fixture release shows the AFL’s desire to maximise competition, but more can still be done to ensure smaller clubs are provided further revenue raising opportunities.
Garlick said clubs that are disadvantaged by poor stadium deals, who were proactively seeking opportunities to grow, needed the AFL’s strong consideration when forming the fixture.
“From a football perspective, we enjoy playing at our home ground, Etihad Stadium, and we know our fans love watching us there,” Garlick said.
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“However, it is well known that the existing financial arrangements with Etihad Stadium are not optimally designed for our club or any of the smaller clubs playing home games there — we need to continue to re-examine this with all key stakeholders in the context of equalisation,” Garlick said.
“We have explored playing a home game at Simonds Stadium as well as making a formal submission to the AFL Commission that we should be permitted to showcase a game on Good Friday.”
Garlick said the Club would leave no stone unturned in its desire to be a bigger player in the competition and would continue to work proactively with the AFL to ensure it is seriously considered in all equalisation discussions.
“We see these sort of entrepreneurial initiatives as fundamental to growing our smaller Club into a bigger net contributor of the AFL,” Garlick said.
“We should be aware that most of the key drivers of growth are in fact in the hands of the AFL, and we look forward to working strongly with the league to bring such initiatives into fruition in subsequent seasons.”
“We will continue to be ambitious and entrepreneurial to get the best outcome for our Club going forward.”
