The AFL has again come under fire for receiving millions in taxpayer funds while enjoying a multibillion-dollar broadcasting deal and posting impressive revenue figures each and every year.

Victorian Upper House MP David Limbrick has labelled the AFL grifters for taking public money and called out “the murky issue of former Labor and CFMEU staff working for the AFL”.

The Victorian Libertarian leader said: “Accepting corporate welfare is embarrassing and it should be beneath them, the AFL has revenue of more than $1bn a year,” and he urged “the AFL to show some dignity and stop accepting taxpayer money”.

There is certainly fat that could be cut at headquarters starting with the salaries of the AFL executive who earn on average more than a million a year each.

But as one political powerbroker with links to the sport told me on Wednesday the game is largely driven by volunteers.

“If Limbrick wants to fund the entire AFL and Australian Rules infrastructure largely driven by volunteers, then good luck,” he said.

“How about he shows the way by getting rid of the upper house in Victorian parliament, amalgamating seats, merging councils and then rationalise the public service.”

There’s no doubt that the AFL is more than a business. It brings joy to millions and is a huge driver of social interaction.

Programs like Auskick enjoy corporate sponsorship but may not survive without league support.

However Limbrick believes the AFL should be able to prosper without taxpayer subsidies.

“If they’re making money out of corporate sponsorships, advertising, broadcasting fees, merch, memberships and other things, and they still can’t stand on their own two feet, we’ve got to ask questions,” he said.

One thing the AFL Executive can do to win back disillusioned fans is to stop playing politics, stop taking contentious positions on divisive political and social issues and focus on the business of sport.

Rita PanahiRita PanahiColumnist and Sky News host

Rita is a senior columnist at Herald Sun, and Sky News Australia anchor of The Rita Panahi Show and co-anchor of top-rating Sunday morning discussion program Outsiders.

Born in America, Rita spent much of her childhood in Iran before her family moved to Australia as refugees. She holds a Master of Business, with a career spanning more than two decades, first within the banking sector and the past ten years as a journalist and columnist.