As we rapidly approach the season, I thought it would be useful to update you on a number of items…
Football
As always it has been a really busy pre-season, but the new football program has taken that to another level. Every possible moment is spent developing the players’ conditioning, their skills, their knowledge of a new game plan and their leadership.
The progress in all of these areas has been excellent, with the coaching group working incredibly hard to create real and measurable improvement(s). In particular, under Brendon’s leadership, they’ve very diligently created an elite-learning (and development) environment.
The positive ‘vibe’ throughout the summer has also been very noticeable. We were rapt with the turnout at our NAB Challenge game at Ikon Park, and even though the scoreboard read poorly with most senior players absent, the atmosphere was tremendous.
Many supporters that day were obviously keen to re-visit footy at our home ground – and relive some great memories. As a result, we will most definitely be pushing the AFL to fixture another NAB game at home next year.
The feedback from many people that day was that they were also keen to see our next generation, young draftees and new players in action.
All of them showed that day – as they have throughout the pre-season – very encouraging signs for the future. Indeed that will be the cornerstone of our season – as members and supporters know – looking for growth and ‘green shoots’ of renewal. We will keep cracking in with the learning and development of players and we will certainly not shy away from performance and results – but we all know we will need to be a little patient as we grow.
If you haven’t already, I strongly encourage you to watch our latest feature film, The Journey.
Produced internally by the Carlton Media team, The Journey provides an in-depth look at the foundations being set by Brendon and his coaching panel, as we embark on the club-wide reset.
I must take my hat off to the entire football department for granting the media team such brilliant access. I’m sure you’ll agree that it takes the fly-on-the-wall experience to another level.
Women’s Football
There’s no doubt there is something of a ‘revolution’ taking place with women’s football. As I said recently in a newspaper opinion piece, the acceleration of a women’s competition is real, and it’s for the right reason(s).
In our case, there’s a lot of work going on to broaden our club’s appeal to females of all ages as supporters, participants (players) and employees. In short, we aim to be leaders in gender equality, and so our efforts in establishing a women’s team, and a pathway for female footballers are also very real.
We are an incredibly multicultural and diverse club, and the more diverse we are, the more we grow.
Members will already have seen and heard of initiatives across the Club which we are implementing, and there will be more to come with ‘Women of Carlton’ broadening to a ‘whole of club’ program. A little less visible are things like our behind the scenes work with government and our new partnership with the Northern Football League, where we have undertaken to support the development (and pathways) of girls footy; from under 10s through to under 18s. We also have an ongoing involvement with AFL Victoria in the development of women’s games.
We’re delighted to have recently employed Lauren Arnell, an elite player herself, to help with this work; and in the establishment of our own women’s team. We intend to put our best foot forward and be part of the competition beyond this year.
We have the facilities, obviously the expertise, the motivation and strategic drive – as well as corporates wishing to support it – to make sure we’re successful if afforded an initial team.
Membership
I sincerely thank all of you who’ve renewed your membership; and (again) welcome to our new members.
As everyone knows we have a high number of Sunday games this season, and it’s pleasing that it provides more opportunity for families to get along to the footy.
Growing membership remains one of our most important objectives as a club, and while that applies ‘across the board’, the growth in family and female membership(s) is an especially high priority. The indicators show we’re headed in the right direction, but there’s still a lot of work to do in making sure that we do everything we can to keep you as a member, and ‘convert’ the mass of Carlton supporters out there who are not yet (or have previously been) members.
Hall of Fame
Our club’s 152-year history means the Hall of Fame event is one of the most culturally significant functions on the calendar.
On April 29 we will induct (subject to a pending Board endorsement) four new people into the Carlton Hall of Fame and elevate one ‘Hall of Famer’ to Legend status.
A Hall of Fame committee, comprising of an appropriate cross section of people from across the Club, have made that recommendation; adding to the existing 73 Hall of Fame members and 12 Legends.
We’re very keen for everyone to have an opportunity to attend the induction presentation which will be held at the Athenaeum next month. To open the event to all members of the Blues faithful, prices to attend have been set at no more than $80 per person.
It promises to be a wonderful event.
For further information please click here
Community
Our club – and in particular our players – get involved in many community activities. As a member, I hope you’d be proud when you see or hear of our work in the local areas, or as an example Dennis Armfield winning an AFL award (the Jim Stynes medal) for such work and commitments (as he did late last year).
Our Community and Diversity team are wonderfully well lead by Shawn Wilkey.
Supported by everyone at the Club and the Club’s Foundation, they make a difference to many lives in our community, through our support of Odyssey House, Peter Mac Foundation, and Down Syndrome Victoria, to name just a few. We are also striving to do more in the prevention of family violence and put emphasis our schools program, which focusses on a ‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body’.
Over time, we’ll keep you updated about our work in these areas.
Victorian Responsible Gaming Charter
Earlier this week we finalised a partnership with the Victorian Responsible Gaming Foundation.
That it created a ‘stir’ is perplexing to say the least, and those who ‘get it’ know that it's not an ‘anti-gambling’ campaign.
It’s about leadership in responsible gambling and furthering our work in the community – particularly with young people and their understanding of the risks associated with gambling.
It is important to take a proactive role in the education of all our club stakeholders and the wider community.
We firmly believe that it's important not to be perpetuating gambling messages throughout AFL broadcasts and at our games. We signed the charter to not partner with sports betting agencies.
To join seven other AFL clubs in signing the Responsible Gambling Charter is a great show of solidarity, and we look forward to supporting the foundation’s initiatives.
…and finally, back to footy:
In advance, thank you for your support this season. As you know so well, we’ve reset so much of our football program and we’re now a relatively young and inexperienced team – but a team with much to look forward to.
Just like every other team, we can’t guarantee what the ‘W-L’ will look like this year, but we believe we can guarantee a team that is united and together, a team that is well organised, and a team that will grow and develop.
So look for that unity, for the cohesion and the ‘green shoots’ of growth, as we begin what Brendon describes as a ‘new journey’.
Regards,
Steven Trigg CEO, Carlton FC |
