Sources,however,said that stadium deals were a secondary issue to low attendances,which are a product of poor on-field performance and affect all revenue streams.

St Kilda's comparatively higher distribution is in part based on the equalisation formula that takes in a disparity on quality of fixturing,the fact they play the most games of any club at Marvel Stadium,have a small membership and generate the lowest amount of income from sponsorship of any Victorian club.

St Kilda have been comparatively weak commercially,last year earning $7.7 million in corporate or sponsorship income which,was a $1 million improvement on the year before but was still $1.7 million less than even the Brisbane Lions were able to generate.

In contrast Melbourne generated $11.3 million in sponsorship and the Western Bulldogs $12.6 million. At the top end of the scale Collingwood declared $20 million in sponsorship or corporate income,Hawthorn $16.6 million and Richmond $15.5 million in their annual reports.

The extra AFL money is not due to the redevelopment of Moorabbin as the club additionally accounted last year for $5 million in Moorabbin redevelopment funding from government grants and contributions which is regarded as non-operating revenues.

The Saints have moved back to Moorabbin into $45 million facilities for which they successfully drew outside funding and only contributed $8 million of their own. The funding of that move has meant the club has not paid down their $12 million debt.