New WAFC chairman targets cash
New WA Football Commission chairman Murray McHenry says a new financial model for WA football when it moves to the new stadium at Burswood will be the top item on the commission’s agenda as he succeeds Frank Cooper in the job.
McHenry was announced to stakeholders yesterday as the new chairman after escalating business commitments forced Cooper to quit the post ahead of schedule.
Cooper will remain on the WAFC until his term expires at the end of the year.
Cooper, a commissioner for nine years and chairman for six, has become a director of South32 Limited and a trustee of St John of God Healthcare on top of roles at Woodside, the Insurance Commission of WA and University of WA.
McHenry said the change at the top would not mean any major shift in direction.
“There are obviously a number of major milestones that are a work in progress where the end results aren’t there yet,” he said.
“That is more about the financial result for football and Frank will be involved in that as well because we need to use every-body to the best of their ability to get those outcomes.”
Cooper said talks with the State Government over the new economic model for football were “getting to the tough end now where it is about the projections and the numbers”.
“It has been conducted in a very positive manner which gives us hope we will get to a good answer, but it won’t be easy to get there,” Cooper said.
McHenry is also the chairman of Perth Stadium Management which was yesterday short-listed as a bidder for management rights at the new stadium.
He said issues such as AFL funding of football in WA were secondary at this point.
“We are always asking the AFL for more money in every way that we can and there is a general belief in the community and Department of Sport and Recreation in particular that the AFL don’t kick the can enough,” McHenry said.
“That needs proper evaluation as to what they do do and whether that is in balance with the rest of Australia.
“Right at the moment the other matters are much more important and that is the deal with the Government for football in WA.
“Football on the field is growing strongly and active weekend participation will soon reach 200,000 people.
“However, strong performances on the field are ultimately the result of a strong financial system and the potential relocation of football has created considerable uncertainty around our future revenue streams.”
McHenry, a former chairman and director at West Coast who also has served on the WAFC for the past six years, said Cooper had made a “real difference to the game in Western Australia”.
“During Frank’s period as chairman the active participation in football has grown from 120,000 to 180,000 people, the AFL partnering model for the WAFL has been successfully implemented, new broadcasting arrangements have been put in place for the WAFL and our skills in stadium management services have increased significantly,” he said.
