Who really has the power in Australian sport?

The Australian Financial Review Magazine recently revealed its annual The Power Issue, listing Australia’s most powerful individuals, which includes a ranking of the most powerful people in Australian sport.

The AFR’s top five is somewhat predictable but hard to argue with – Andrew Demetriou at number one, John Coates in second, David Gallop third, Frank Lowy fourth and IMG boss Martin Jolly at number five.

Demetriou’s power within the AFL is immense, and with a huge broadcasting deal sewn up and expansion into Western Sydney and the Gold Coast, he is a decent number one candidate.

Australian Olympic Committee president Coates is undeniably powerful, but is he more powerful than Frank Lowy and David Gallop? I would say not, but 2012 is an Olympic year. Coates wields a big stick across many different sports, and commands prominent government support, especially so in the pointy end of the four-year Olympic cycle.

Gallop is at a critical point in his NRL tenure. He’s copped it from several sides this year, but looks poised to continue his role under the new NRL commission. If he can secure a huge broadcasting deal for the NRL, tipping the $1 billion mark or bettering the AFL’s agreement, he should be number two.

And where does John O’Neill sit on this list? Granted, the ARU chief executive has had a tough few years since coming back to rugby in 2007. This year has been much better for Australian rugby, with Queensland winning the Super Rugby title and the Melbourne Rebels entering the competition, but the sport is still down compared with the highs achieved in the early 2000s.

Still O’Neill, a former CEO of FFA, is one to be respected. Obviously so is Lowy, one of Australia’s richest men and the chairman of FFA. His power in FIFA may not be what it once was, after the World Cup bid diabacle, but the Westfield supremo still commands respect at home.

I know very little about Martin Jolly, so it’s hard to comment on his inclusion. Based in Hong Kong, he runs IMG in Australia and Asia, and the sports entertainment management company has a huge reach down under. The AFR says IMG turns over $100 million in Australia each year, owns the Australian Masters golf tournament and manages many events and athletes.

They represent David Pocock, Robbie Maddison, Penny Taylor, Bernard Tomic, Jelena Dokic, along with many others, including retired sports stars Nick Farr-Jones, Shane Heal, Dermott Brereton and Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
So Jolly and IMG do have some power.

The AFR’s most powerful people in sport list stops at five, which left me wondering, who would be ranked sixth to tenth? And after that?

Where should Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland sit, or Federal Government Minister for Sport Mark Arbib? And what about Nine Entertainment Co David Gyngell? Gyngell is in charge of Channel Nine, as well as ninemsn and ACP magazines, giving him power over numerous types of free-to-air TV sports coverage such as the NRL, 2011 Rugby World Cup, Australian cricket, swimming and the London Olympics. He also sits on the board of the Sydney Roosters.

Another one to consider is Premier Media Group CEO Patrick Delany, who controls Fox Sports, and Telstra CEO David Thodey. Both are influential broadcasters and sponsors, giving sports bodies huge revenues. Who wields more power?

One to ponder.