FOOTY BUSINESS

THE IMAGES OFTHE HIGH-FLYING FOOTBALLERS of the Australian Football League (AFL) are a testament to self-discipline, teamwork and a focus on achieving their goals. But while it's the elite players who wow the crowds, it's people such as Ian Anderson CA who make the enterprise possible. "The AFL's direct turnover was $180 million last year - our game contributes more than $2.6 billion a year to the economy. It's big business; it has to be managed properly."

Anderson has one child who has carried on the family tradition by supporting Essendon Football Club, making him the fourth generation of Bombers' supporters. Anderson's passion for the game has been with him since he was a child growing up in Melbourne's Beaumaris. But, he says, that passion can only go so far when sport becomes a business.