Peter Jackson Menswear Melbourne has been revealed as the new naming rights sponsor of the Victorian Football League. The announcement was made by AFL Victoria Board Chairman Grant O’Riley at the AFL Victoria season launch for the VFL and TAC Cup competitions at Visy Park on Wednesday.
After a number of years without an official naming rights sponsor, Peter Jackson Melbourne will join the league in a two year deal. The naming rights sponsorship was one of three announcements made at the season launch, with Acacia Learning Solutions welcomed as a new sponsor for 2011, and TAC renewing their commitment to the under 18 competition for the 20th year.
“Reflecting the strong pathway system - where Victorian players made up almost 60% of AFL draftees - has been the offseason interest from sponsors wanting to align themselves with our brands,” O’Riley said.
“While the brand Peter Jackson Melbourne has been synonymous with radio and TV advertising over a number of years, we looking forward to building an association with them for the Peter Jackson Melbourne VFL.”
Speaking on behalf of Peter Jackson Melbourne, Nick Jackson spoke of his company’s excitement in joining the VFL as naming rights sponsor this year.
“It is a huge honour for our business to be the naming rights partner of such a sensational competition that is the VFL.
“We have always been a proud and passionate football family, and we have always tried to transfer that into our business objectives and initiatives ... so it was an obvious progression to step up to support a league competition,” Jackson said.
Acacia Learning Solutions will join as a major sponsor in 2011. Acacia will be running Certificate 2 in Sport training programs in the TAC Cup clubs, helping to invest in the players that are in the system.
“Footy binds communities. We looked at our football program six months ago and it was not a hard strategy to decide that we wanted to be involved more in communities. We are genuinely enthusiastic about helping educate footballers off the field,” Acacia CEO David Griffen said at the launch.
“We have toured the TAC Cup clubs over the last three months to try and understand what the players learn from a development and football perspective for life skills ... we realise these players are elite athletes on the field, so our job with the TAC Cup players is to help them off the field and give them other opportunities.”
AFL Victoria was also pleased to announce the continued support of the TAC.
“To have a sponsor commit to an organisation for such a long period of time is a rarity in this current day, and we are once again grateful to them for their ongoing support of our under 18 competition,” O’Riley said.
In response, TAC Senior Manager, Road Safety and Marketing John Thompson spoke of the partnership that had been built between the two organisations over a number of years. “It is great that we have two very proud organisations working hand in hand in partnership, and that partnership is built around those players that are part of this competition,” Thompson said.
“That is why we are here, and that is why we are going to remain involved in the TAC Cup.”
Apart from the new sponsorship announcements, the launch also helped showcase players and coaches the VFL and TAC Cup have produced over the years.
Speakers at the launch included North Melbourne draftee Shaun Atley (formerly of Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup), three time North Ballarat premiership coach Gerard Fitzgerald (who had three players drafted to the AFL at the end of last season), Calder Cannons coach Martin Allison (the Cannons boasted nine AFL draftees at the end of last year) and 2010 Collingwood VFL captain, and state representative Kris Pendlebury.
AFL Victoria looks forward to another exciting year in Victorian Football, with the TAC Cup season starting on March 27, and the Peter Jackson Melbourne VFL season starting on April 2.
Last Modified on 29/06/2011 09:51