CEO REPORT

After such a magnificent Premiership season that was 2019, did we really expect the upheaval that was to follow. Unprecedented may cover it. Much has been written and said about the WAFC imposing penalties on our club after winning the premiership. It was a disgrace then and nothing has changed that view even now that those penalties have been removed for the 2021 season. It is impossible to gauge the impact it had on our players

Peter Capes and coaches, however our past players, members & supporters have been incensed about this issue and that is something we will not forgive the WAFC.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Then of course the world was turned upside down by the COVID-19 crisis. We were preparing to play a round of practice matches the same weekend as AFL round one when on the Friday afternoon a meeting of WAFL Clubs and the WAFC made the decision to halt all playing and training. The players and coaches were all gathered the following Monday where announcements were made that the season was on hold, access to the club was no longer allowed and group training sessions were stopped immediately. It was a huge shock and had a very big impact on everyone involved. Initially all clubs faced a financial disaster and a race for survival that was only saved by Job keeper payments and cash flow boosts via tax concessions. This was followed by support announcements by the WA State Government and the City of Vincent providing direct support to the club. Without these measures the WAFL competition could not have even been a consideration. With clubs closed, staff stood down or working from home, the chances of any season at all appeared remote during April and May. Discussions then commenced with Clubs about what appetite they had for games and what capacity the industry had to fund game expenses, players, coaches and other staff. Especially since there was no prospect of generating revenue from crowds at games or through bars, functions and events. A range of different models were floated and the whole industry was working together to share information from government and what possibilities existed. During that process, the SFC and the majority of the other WAFL clubs strongly wanted to play a season although the commitment, the acceptable level of risk and capacity to do so varied significantly. In the end, to play any games at all, all clubs agreed to a set of rules and financials that met the demands of those most unwilling or unable to take any financial risk. Well done to WAFC’s Scott Baker and Luke Sanders for their work in supporting clubs to get the season underway. Just on a tangent, we never want to hear these words and phrases again – unprecedented times, flatten the curve, all in this together, lockdown, hard border, contact tracing, new normal, social distance, nimble, self-isolate just to name a few.

WA FOOTBALL SCANDAL

The off field has been dominated by the scandal of the famous WAFC leak of its entire staff payroll and the ensuring witch hunt which was played out in the media. The leak caused major embarrassment for the WAFC through back page headlines and lines like “WAFC pays $9 million to its 134 staff, with 23 pocketing at least $100,000” The scandal led to significant change at the WAFC as well as the Minister for Sport, Mick Murray announcing a WA Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee hearing into the WAFC. The West Australian comments at the time included “The administration, it must be said, deserved to be embarrassed, it also reflected a bureaucracy that has become bloated and overly centralized” We couldn’t agree more and made similar comments in our submission to the Public Accounts Inquiry. See our full submission in this annual report. The PAC will report around the same time this annual report is published. Our hope is that by then pressure is still on the WAFC to continue to decentralize programs such as the talent pathway and even some community engagement programs that are best delivered by clubs closer to the community.

SFC OPERATIONS

Our staff have been great considering concerns about job security, stand down, office closure, reduced pay and hours and then working from home. I would like to thank everyone for their contribution, they have done a great job. Particular thanks to both Zac Acott and Deb King who both stepped up in a crisis to manage key aspects of our business. Well done also to Mack Sheppard for his COVID Safe plans and being available when required and for his hospitality team including long time staff in Paul and Susie. Our football highlight came in the form of the Colts Grand Final victory and well done to all those involved. Also worthy of a mention was the Reserves team’s excellent year and another push into the finals.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Some of the game day and event highlights during the year included;

Season launch and the unfurling of the premiership flag Colts Premiership – well done Dicko and Chayce The WAFLW and the Subiaco Football Club Women team finishing minor premier and playing in the Grand Final. Life Members Function to induct Clancy Wheeler and Angelo Pocaro The WAFL Grand Final at Fremantle Oval – would have preferred Leederville but still? Launch of the Lions Foundation – our community engagement vehicle.

KEY CLUB STRATEGY

Sport in general and WA Football in particular, is facing a very tough time now and into the next few years and no doubt this Club will be impacted. We must all now be aware of the significant challenge we have faced over the last few years. The future for us means we must address all the following key issues during next year and beyond.

Leederville Oval Master Plan with EP and the City of Vincent

Lions Foundation growth and funding sources and then an ongoing strong link and benefit stream for the SFC then incorporating a strong community engagement activation. A “One Club” model for the Subiaco men’s and women’s teams. Greater level of support for donations via the Australian Sports Grants platform Ongoing support for the AFL hospitality opportunities we have developed at AFL games.

FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

The core of our club is the football operations staff, coaches and players that continue to set high goals, to work together and never take things for granted. Our list management is always critical given our club direction to develop our players promoted from Colts and Reserves emerging talent. The key platform to our list for a few years has been identifying players undervalued and not getting regular league games and that continued again this season.

In addition, let us hope we can minimize player retirements and recruit smartly so that Beau and his team can again drive us to success in 2021.

TALENT & DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY

What a team that Chayce Creedy and Kristian Dicton have become. These leaders showed they have a bright future after guiding the Colts and Futures through a highly successful 2020 that will provide our senior program with a flow of quality players in the coming years. They have been well supported by many aspiring coaches and support staff that provide the teams in the pathway with a great learning experience during their time at the club in addition to development of their football.

SPONSORS

Thanks to Holman Industries as our major partner and to also see Managing Director Wally Edwards as a regular at home games. In addition, we welcomed the North Perth Community Bank and Chair Nick Catania as our major community naming rights partner. Stadium naming rights continue to be unfilled for the 4th straight season. The City of Vincent continue to seek a naming right sponsor that is shared with the clubs based here at Leederville. Our major support sponsors are vital to the club, thanks to Phoenix Motors, SKG Radiology, ISC, AE Hoskins and Sons and CUB for your support.

MARKETING COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBERS, SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

Zac Acott is responsible for driving new business opportunities and increasing sponsorship and marketing revenue as well as developing and maintaining positive relationships with our stakeholders. Strategies in the business development area target growth in the number of people we have contact with, to thereby increase the number of people we can convert to members and new and potential leads for sponsors, to get to attend games, events and functions and of course promote the benefits of our sponsors. Delivery of our communication with members and supporters, the website, Lions eNews, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter that provide up to date information and stories about the people within the club remains a high priority.

LIONS IN THE COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT & SOCIAL INCLUSION PROGRAMS

The club is a community focused organization, and we will continue to support events and programs in our district which although due to COVID issues were greatly scaled back this year still included;

Prostate Cancer Club PROST – the eighth year this fitness program has been run for those men battling prostate cancer and recovering from operations

Basil’s Community Raffle – provides over $25,000 to participating junior football, women’s football and netball clubs.

District schools & clubs – SFC provides quiz night prizes to many district schools & junior clubs.

Country coaching and development – the Goldfields is important and thanks to both Kristian and Chayce for their regular coach and players visits into our country areas to develop young players.

Game day events that welcome junior clubs, little league games and the Kevin Hill experience. Well done Hilly!

We must be more relevant to our community and this is a major focus area for the club and under Director Kristi Annear. The launch of the Lion Foundation this year will be the start of some very important community initiatives and be a great step forward for our club.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks again to Mark Lawrence and the board for being really supportive of both myself and all the other staff at the club. Thanks to the board for your time commitment to the club and ability to positively influence our future. Thanks to you all for the assistance you provide not only to me but for the work you do with all the staff.

To our various Coterie Groups, your work and dedication to the club is noticed and appreciated and we hope it continues for many years to come.

The Golds led by Ross Lockhart

The Ladies Forum, Dee and team

The TRG volunteers, great job gents.

Past Players and Supporters led by Gary Underhill.

PATRON, BALL LEGEND, NO 1 TICKET HOLDER AND AMBASSADOR

Thanks to Kevin Merifield, Matt Priddis, Justin Langer and Kim Hughes for their passionate support of the club. We remain very fortunate that all these champions continue to give us their time and it is a huge bonus for the club. Finally, I extend my appreciation to all members and supporters of the Subiaco Football Club, for your patience and support when I needed to close the club during April to June and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas as we look forward to a more positive 2021.