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Richest club in the league goes looking for handouts

John TownsendThe West Australian
WAFL Grand Final - Subiaco vs Peel Thunder Subiaco watch the Simpson medal presentation Pic: Ben Crabtree The West Australian 25/09/2016
Camera IconWAFL Grand Final - Subiaco vs Peel Thunder Subiaco watch the Simpson medal presentation Pic: Ben Crabtree The West Australian 25/09/2016 Credit: The West Australian

Subiaco are seeking tax-deductible donations of $320,000 as they prepare for a future without the financial bonanza provided by their lucrative Subiaco Oval arrangements.

The WAFL’s richest club with $2.5 million in the bank, Subiaco are the only club in the league with specific funding targets arranged through the Australian Sports Foundation.

The Lions this week urged club members and supporters to donate before the June 30 end of the financial year as they seek support for four separate projects. They include $200,000 for the Subiaco Development Fund that is used to help junior football in their metropolitan and regional districts.

And there are three separate $40,000 projects including a pathway program for coaches within their district, a gym upgrade at their Leederville Oval headquarters and assistance for country players moving to Perth.

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ASF sports partnership manager Ashleigh Apps was a guest speaker at a recent Subiaco president’s lunch and used the event to urge people to make more sports donations.

She said WA was behind other States despite the assistance ASF provides as part of its statutory role as a fund-raising body.

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“WA donates about $1 million but Queensland gets $7 million in donations,” Apps said.

ASF was established by the Federal government in 1986 to help individuals, clubs and sporting bodies raise money. It has raised about $350 million in its three decades but is underpinned by its deductible gift recipient status which makes all donations tax-deductible.

Subiaco remain the WAFL trendsetters in most off-field areas and they identified ASF as a way to help them maintain their financial stability.

The Lions had a benefit for two decades through the deal that saw them raise up to $1 million a year from seats at Subiaco Oval AFL matches. That deal has expired now that AFL games have moved to Optus Stadium.

Subiaco reported a loss of $148,196 last year but retained $2.5 million in the bank after revenue of $3.5 million.

Perth and Claremont are the only other WAFL clubs to use ASF but neither club set a specific target for fundraising.

Perth raise money for their Rob Wiley junior development foundation while Claremont sought funds to fit out the Claremont Oval gym and upgrade the ground entrance.

Both West Coast and Fremantle also use ASF, with the Eagles seeking $7 million for their Lathlain Park community redevelopment program.

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