Following three successive years of surplus, the GIANTS have announced a 2018 operating deficit of $1,985,691 (including $645,134 of depreciation) on a total turnover of $43,453,413. 

The largest contributing factor was the significant and abnormal level of injury payments in 2018. 

GIANTS Chief Executive David Matthews said the club faced a range of unique circumstances in 2018 that contributed to a departure from the organisation’s trend of positive results.

“Our injury toll had the major impact on our financial result and inclement weather affected our gate receipts at several major home games,” said Mr Matthews.

“We do set ambitious revenue targets, but it is still disappointing not to record our fourth successive surplus.

“And while we don’t rely on gaming revenue like many other clubs and we don’t yet have the fan base and fan revenue of older clubs in traditional football regions, we have still achieved very strong growth both on and off the field.

“Last year saw us exceed numerous key targets - our membership base grew by 16% to over 26,000 members and we continued to secure a host of highly coveted partners, including KIA Motors, and complete extensions for our co-major partners, Toyo Tires and Virgin Australia. We finished the year ranked seventh in the AFL for commercial revenue while our community outreach programs engaged over 21,000 people in Western Sydney and the ACT.

“And thanks to the support of the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, we will soon commence a significant upgrade to the WestConnex Centre that will further cement our long-term future and ensure we have a world-class sporting and community centre.

“On-field our AFL team made a third straight finals series and our AFLW team missed out on a maiden Grand Final berth by one game. In addition, our GIANTS Netball partnership with Netball NSW continued to go from strength to strength culminating in a minor Premiership.”