The "four wealthiest teams" in the Australian Football League are in "a new battle with the competition over club funding" after learning they will receive no additional money from the new A$2.5B ($1.87B) broadcast rights agreement, according to Caroline Wilson of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Collingwood, Hawthorn, West Coast and Fremantle have all made individual presentations to AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan to "voice disappointment with the game's new investment model that they claim has over-corrected" in the equalization push. As the AFL "intensifies efforts to close the gap between rich and poor clubs," the game's "wealthiest franchises" have learned they will each receive an estimated A$8.6M ($6.4M) next year, "which in real terms means they will receive no lift from the richest sport media deal in Australian history." The poorer clubs, led by '16 preliminary finalist Greater Western Sydney, are expected to receive more than A$20M ($14.9M) at the bottom of "a sliding scale that has been presented to the AFL Commission." Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich confirmed the Dockers had "voiced disenchantment in a presentation to the AFL." He said, "We have concerns going forward with the AFL's investment model." While Hawthorn CEO Stuart Fox was "the most vocal in challenging the AFL's new model at the most recent meeting of the 18 clubs," Collingwood is "understood to be fighting for the biggest funding boost," pushing the league for close to an extra A$1M ($750,000) annually from the new TV deal. The wealthy clubs' disappointment "comes as it has emerged only a handful of clubs will record genuine profits this year," with 13 to lose money in real terms "or at best struggle to break even" (SMH, 9/15).
