LEAGUE COACH REPORT

Beau Wardman

Contribution versus Commitment. The chicken or the pig. We had to be “all in” - in pursuit of chasing our goal for 2021. Much was spoken about 2020 and the apparent fall from grace in a lightning carnival season but it was our history to write - were we stepping down to breathe and re-align to ensure we could reach the next summit or would we fall all the way down the side of the mountain? That was the reality of what we faced.

Last year I closed out the Outridge Medal with the following comment: The outcome this season won’t define us, what will define us is implementing the lessons we have learnt through action. The WORK required, the LEADERSHIP required, the CONNECTION required and the DEVOTION required is very clear to have success. Use the pain of disappointment into a pain for change. I am committed to our players, our staff and this great Club to drive us back to the top, to Restore the Roar. The commitment of our group - the burning desire was there. You could feel the drive from day one in pre-season when we all gathered back. I said “the only thing you get from looking back is a stiff neck”.

We set about rebuilding a strong structure in our football program, Kristian Dicton as GM of Footy, and brining in experience to our coaching staff and strength & conditioning. Paul Vines and Darren Rumble jumped into senior lines, Nigel Hamilton took on the mids and Michael Dobbo and Jemma Bassi set about setting an AFL standard program to raise the bar with our fitness and Maddie Oudman brought a smile and energy within the trainers room. This complemented adding some new development staff with Glenn McCallum, Jamie Battigelli and Daniel Vidovich also coming on board. In the moment, you are consumed but the process. I live this, I expect our players and staff to live this - playing your role. It is such a constant industry, where you roll from one game to the next, that there is no time to kick back and appreciate what we achieve - now we can!

It is a strange society where success is more often frowned upon and tried to be brought down and criticised with attempts to stop it continuing rather than celebrated. People outside our four walls will never understand or appreciate the spirit, dedication and care we have for each other and the success that comes from the ongoing commitment. Whilst premierships are what we play for - that is not all we celebrate on our journey. To see our young reserves group two games out of finals after a heavy loss to West Perth in round 17 and show the resolve and energy as a playing group to get to a Grand Final on Optus stadium is a credit to our whole program. I take great memories from watching Lewis Putts fierce determination to get better every week, Lachie Davis continue to persevere despite missing senior selection for over 12 weeks, Ryan Borchet missing over 18 weeks with injury - but determined to return to play. Getting to know Chaddy Harris, his enthusiasm for the Club and the support on and off the field for all our players. Our people make this Club the dominant force it is and how closely connected we become. I was so proud of the spirit the players showed through the season and the humility they displayed after the grand final success. I thought you represented our Club with distinction and I believe our families, members and supporters would be most proud. We’re not thinking this is the final destination because we are targeting a continued era of success. I sense there is a great hunger within our playing group - some have tasted it, some will taste it over the next 12-24 months, thats the exciting part.

We used 37 players at league level across the season including nine debutants. We also had 56 players through our reserves - the most of any Club in the competition. What excites me moving forward for our Club is the young guys knocking on the door, the opportunity is there - it’s what actions you take to grab it.

I work closely with a lot of good people at our Club, to acknowledge those I work closely with on a daily basis, Kristian Dicton (GM of Football), Michael Dobbin (Head High Performance), Kristelle Graus (Physio) and Maddie Oudman (Head Trainer) to you and your teams for your collective work to have the players prepared each week. Our coaches, what impact they have, particularly my senior group, Nigel, Rumba and Vin, who support me and the players with their dedication, attention to detail and being prepared to challenge each other along the journey. Your contributions to our players and this Club is unparalleled. You make the job fun! To our development crew led by Glenn, BMac, Jamie and Viddo, you support the players growth, provide encouragement and a sounding board - you embrace the professional nature of this program and enhance the players growth, reflected in how far we have come in 2021.

I’d also like to thank our board of directors, President Mark Lawrence and CEO Pete Capes for the faith in me as coach and our football department to deliver on our football program to the highest standard and for providing valuable advice and guidance. To all our other support staff of whom there are many to make this job easier and provide an environment which is so enriching for our playing group. On behalf of the Club - thank you. To Alby, Rocket and Magic. Words can’t do complete justice to your contributions. We lost one of the kindest, most humble men I have met. He would do anything for you and least of all he would smile and say “how you going magic - it’s what he called everyone, it’s how he made you feel.” His determination to see through to the Grand Final probably cost him in the end. We have lost a friend, a supporter, a doer, and just a bloody good bloke but his legacy - that of unselfishness, love for others and energy will continue to live within our walls. A special call out to Kellie Properjohn who has been a great personal mentor and sounding board for our leadership group this year. We have continued to challenge to set a higher standard. Leigh Kitchin as captain, you set a high personal standard this year and led the accountability for our playing group to follow. Thanks for your commitment to success, preparation and believing in and supporting what we wanted to put in place. Our players are a remarkable group of young men, we were challenged and you never stopped looking for resolutions. We set a plan and you bought in with belief! It is an absolute honour and privilege to coach you and I challenge you all to continue to believe in your abilities, to believe that though hard work anything is possible, to believe that if we are united we will achieve ultimate success again. Continue to raise the bar and write your own stories, this is a chapter I will never forget and when you turn to the middle of the book to look at the pictures - you’ll smile. This game never stops and we are deep in the planning phase for the 2022 campaign. Again, we look forward to the unwavering support of our members and fans who continue to get behind our Club. See you in the new year.