State Government negotiations finalisedSunday, October 22, 2017 - 2:22 PM

The West Australian Football Commission, the AFL and State Government have reached an agreement regarding the funding model for WA football, with AFL football moving to the new Perth Stadium in 2018.

WAFC CEO Gavin Taylor said he was pleased to have reached an outcome which will enable football to continue to be the premier sport across the state of Western Australia for years to come.

"We would like to acknowledge both the McGowan Government and previous State Government for their commitment to football in Western Australia throughout this process," he said.

"Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure we maintain the highly successful 'football funding football' model we have in WA, which sees funds generated at the elite AFL level of our game channelled back in to all levels of WA football.

"I am pleased to be able to say that today’s agreement means this funding model will continue and that we have secured this outcome for the next 50 years," he said.

The key outcomes for WA football in the agreement are:

• A total agreement of 50 years, made up of 5 x 10 year terms
• A fixed funding commitment of ~$10.8M per year for the initial 10 year term, indexed by CPI annually
• A variable funding model in subsequent terms based on the needs of grassroots football and the performance of our AFL clubs at the new Stadium, with this to be funded out of Stadium revenues
• A detailed review process will be undertaken at year 7 to determine the variable funding in the subsequent term
• A medium term commitment for accommodation of the WAFC at Subiaco Oval and the establishment of an MOU for the development of a new home for WA football

"With the funding of WA football now secured we can now continue to progress the initiatives detailed in our Structural Review of Football and the implementation of our new Strategic Plan with confidence and certainty," Mr Taylor said.

"Ensuring we are successful in undertaking this program of change across the football industry is critical to ensure we continue to deliver upon our vision of connecting and enhancing WA communities via our great game, in light of our new funding model."

Photo: Sports Minister Mick Murray, WAFC CEO Gavin Taylor, Premier Mark McGowan and WAFC Chairman Murray McHenry.