state during the 2020 season and his subsequent dismissal from the club at the end of the season for assaulting his ex-partner. Expansion The AFL Commission has a role in undertaking assessments of expansion clubs and awarding new licences including: Gold Coast Suns Greater Western Sydney Giants Ongoing Tasmanian AFL team bid The Commission owns a stake in the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney clubs. Member club viability The AFL Commission manages a special fund called the Competitive Balance Fund (CBF) since 2004 as a grant of up to $5 million per club to ensure that member clubs remain financially viable. The system was later changed to the Annual Special Distribution (ASD) of $6.3 million shared among all clubs, as well as allowing for grants and special concessions, such as payments, to ensure that the AFL member clubs remain viable in the short term. In 2006, the Commission approved a $2.1 million special financial assistance package for Carlton. In response to clubs increasingly relying on and applying for special funding, in 2008, the Commission recommended removing the fund altogether, but after considerable club protests led by three struggling clubs, the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and North Melbourne, CEO Andrew Demetriou announced that the ASD would remain. In early 2009, it increased Melbourne's assistance from $250,000 to $1 million and made a $1 million grant to Port Adelaide. References External links AFL Info Sheet "AFL Commission" FAQ for rec.sport.football.australian Commission Commission Australian rules football governing bodies Sports governing bodies in Australia 1985 establishments in Australia Sports organizations established in 1985