Details of the league’s finals gate takings emerged at Wednesday night’s annual general meeting in Warrnambool.

The WDFNL revealed the elimination, qualifying and first semi-finals all attracted record crowds as gate takings for the finals series reached $95,401 — almost $5000 more than the previous record.

But president Ken McSween said the historic finals series could have been even bigger financially had its preliminary final not faced competition from the Hampden league in Warrnambool on the last Saturday in August.

“If we hadn’t had that clash with the Hampden league, even though our preliminary final was down by only $100, the way the finals series had started, there was potential for another $2000,” he said.

The grand final takings were $1500 down on the previous year.

McSween was pleased with the finals turnouts.

“Good games, good crowds. The gate price wasn’t increased, it was just some good attendances,” he said.

“Three out of six finals this year we had record gates.”

The league’s previous best finals series was $90,600.

It posted a $3598 profit for the year, with its bottom line offset by a one-off $10,000 contribution to the upgrade of Reid Oval’s netball facilities.

“Effectively it’s a $13,000 profit,” McSween said. 

The league continued to provide assistance to its clubs, forking out $25,609.

The wages bill climbed significantly from $3632 to $20,469, but that was offset by a $10,000 drop in honorariums.

McSween said the league’s general manager Dianne Membery was being transitioned from a volunteer to paid employee.

“As good as Di is, there is no guarantee she will be around forever,” he said.

“We have to be in a situation when if we do have to employ a general manager, there will not be a big impact.” 

McSween said the highlight for the league was the success of its sub rule that enabled  senior teams to promote under 17½ players as a 22nd man.

He said AFL Victoria was now promoting the rule to other competitions.

“It opened doors up for kids and one of the benefits we’ve found out since is that clubs know which kids could be promoted to senior football next year,” he said.

He is upbeat about the league’s future, with a new junior development academy to kick off next year. The academy will be used to develop talented youngsters in the 14-16 and 17-19 age groups.

“It won’t be a Mickey Mouse thing. They have to have potential. We wouldn’t just be putting anyone in it,” McSween said.

“It’s all about promoting the footballers to play the best possible level they can play,  whether that is at their club, TAC Cup or VFL and SANFL.” 

In other developments, Andrea Richardson was elected netball chairwoman and returns to the league’s executive. Long-standing board members Carey Hackett and Ken Knowles were re-elected for two-year terms.