CEO REPORT

Peter Capes

This season was once again a challenging one for nearly all Clubs, players and the WAFC given the uncertainty created by ongoing reports of COVID outbreaks, lockdowns, reduced capacity & cancellations. Quick decision making and the ability to move and amend plans was vital to survive. I’m pleased to report that our people were able to navigate what was thrown at them and to not only survive but prosper, resulting in our

16th League premiership. I think we all know that this success cannot continue. Winning five league premierships in the last eight years is unprecedented in the history of the WAFL when combined with two Colts flags and Reserves teams getting into finals most years and winning two flags as well. I hope all our Subi people recognise how magnificent this era has been, applaud the success and lap it all up. Rules to equalise the competition as well as other Clubs hunting us and doing whatever they can to topple our dominance will eventually take a toll. However, we will continue to innovate, work harder for longer and take nothing for granted as we strive for more and more success.

125TH YEAR CELEBRATIONS

Established in 1896, the Club has deep history and roots within WA football and is one of the most recognisable brands/ Clubs in WA.

A special logo was created that featured a shield surrounded by 15 laurel leaves on each side of the crest to represent the 15 premierships achieved in those 125 years. The logo appeared on all our playing jumpers, uniforms & merchandise was very popular with members and has been widely supported – thanks to everyone for that. Incidentally, Basil has been here to see nearly all those victories. The season’s launch unveiled the special jumper created for the game that listed every premiership player in those 15 victories and was a great way to celebrate and start the year.

GREAT CALL

For the second season, fixtures have been cancelled and rescheduled due to state government virus scare lockdowns. The WAFL Clubs and WAFC made some really good decisions in late July. The options presented were to cut and run with an early season finish or play all games and extend the season. Everyone understood the risks facing us, but the majority supported a full season and moving the WAFL GF to the week after the AFL GF.

A gutsy move in the face of obvious risks, however it was a master stroke and enabled us to take advantage of the footy buzz of what then became the WA Football Festival, that included an AFL preliminary final and then better still the AFL Grand Final. Well led by the WAFC.

SFC OPERATIONS

Every one of our departments in the Club have either met or performed better than their budgeted outcome and I would like to thank everyone for their contribution, they have done a great job. Particular thanks to Zac Acott who has driven our AFL hospitality and Club sponsorship to new levels. He also delivers our high priority communication with members and supporters, the website, Lions eNews, and social media channels that provide up to date information and stories about the people within the Club.

Debbie King who has been a very important cog in our small team for 20 years has called time on her career at the Lions and will retire unfortunately. I cannot thank Debbie enough for her dedication to the role but probably more importantly, for the additional game day involvement, willingness to help others and always a Club first attitude and support of the members. I know she has been nominated as a prospective life member; I hope that is awarded because I cannot think of someone more deserving. Well done Deb. Well done also to Mack Sheppard. The ‘Weapon’ is all business, and he has bought in new business, several new events and functions that have boosted our turnover in bar and functions. He leads a very good hospitality team including long time staff in Paul and Susie.

Rounding out our key staff is Brodie Riach, our very good district officer who unfortunately has taken another role outside football, and Teigan who continues to look after our membership and merchandise areas well.

We are determined to be a one Club model by next year. Our WAFL Women are already an important part of our Club, and they will be a positive part of our future. There will be many benefits from a much closer relationship so let’s get on with that.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Some of the game day and event highlights during the year included; • Good Friday season launch and special 125th Playing Jumper. • Junior members packs for the first 1000 junior registrations in our district – thanks to the WAFC and KC Australia • A rescheduled Diehards Function where Kevan Sparks, Jarrad

Schofield, John Martin, Darren Rumble and President Mark

Lawrence were inducted into the Hall of Fame. • Life Members Ben Randall and Rodney ‘Rocket’ Reynolds were also inducted. • NAIDOC round events including the special Kevin Bynder/

Des Headland designed jumpers. • The sold out WAFL Pre-game Grand Final function was fantastic, featuring MC Tim Gossage and speakers Justin

Langer, Matt Priddis, Marc Webb and Beau Wardman • The WAFL Grand Final played at Optus Stadium, after a

COVID interruption, and with the biggest crowd (29,879) since EP beat WP in 2002.

KEY CLUB STRATEGY

Strategies change and must address our most significant challenges. 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 • Hopefully by the time this is published, a grant of $1.3M for new floodlights at Leederville has been announced. • 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 and a center of excellence to house both programs. • Fan engagement and game day experiences to continue to grow our support base.

FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

The core function of our Club is football, the staff, coaches, and players that continue to set high goals, challenge each other, and never take things for granted. Our list management remains critical given our Club direction to develop our players promoted from successful Colts and Reserves pathways. Its very pleasing to have a number of new faces in the premiership team however when we look at the next group coming through, we should be excited by that as well. I cannot pass without congratulating Chad Harris on his year and the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the group. With COVID and some other issues he may have never made it here but Chad we are pleased you did. We hope to have minimal player retirements from this year, however targeted recruiting by our now dynamic team of Dicko and Beau will drive us to more success in 2022.

TALENT & DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY

Chayce Creedy continues to be a benchmark talent coach developing our young players. With the addition of Stuart Berryman this season, both men showed they have a bright future that will provide our senior program with a flow of quality players in the coming years.

SPONSORS

Thanks to Holman Industries our major partner for extending their partnership for another three (3) years. Managing Director Wally Edwards as a regular at home games and was very excited by another Lions victory. Thanks to the Bendigo North Perth Community Bank and Chair Nick Catania who are our major community naming rights partner. We expect this partnership to continue to grow in importance. Stadium naming rights continue to be unfilled for the 5th 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, Pragma Lawyers, and AE Hoskins Building Services for your support.

LIONS IN THE COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT & SOCIAL INCLUSION PROGRAMS

The Club is a community focused organisation, 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 group PROST – the ninth year this fitness program has been run in our gym for those men battling prostate cancer. The program assists over 30 men a week. • The Club joined in the 45 Sit Up Challenge which was about the 45 Men diagnosed with prostate cancer every day. • Mental Health Mixed Charity fundraiser game on 16th

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

Clubs. • Wheelchair AFL team in the inaugural WA Wheelchair Football

League (WAWFL). Proudly supporting inclusion. • Country coaching and development – the Goldfields is important and thanks to both Kristian and Stuart for their regular links and support of our country areas to develop young players. • Home game day events have been improved and again welcome Junior Clubs, kids’ zones, activations, little league games and the Kevin Hill experience. Except Hilly had a year off and we missed him– next year then 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 Lions Foundation 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.

PATRON, BALL LEGEND, NO 1 TICKET HOLDER AND AMBASSADOR

Thanks to Kevin Merifield, Marc Webb, 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, and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas as we look forward to the next WAFL season.