The Sandringham Football Club has again achieved another profitable year. Unfortunately our senior team finished outside the final eight for the third time in as many years. The Board along with our new coach Brett Lovett and our members and player all worked hard on ensuring our alignment has and will continue to grow.
I congratulate the St Kilda Football Club on making the AFL Grand Final and their achievements along the way. Thank you to President Greg Westaway and the St Kilda Football Club Board, Ross Lyon, his coaching staff, players and the administration staff, CEO Michael Nettlefold, Anthony Moore and his team in supporting Sandringham Football Club and our alignment.
On the 3rd December 2010 the AFL announced a restructure of Victorian football as part of building a stronger national organization designed to support and grow the game at all levels. Former Essendon Chief Executive Officer Peter Jackson has been appointed Executive Chair of a new entity, AFL Victoria Ltd., to manage the AFL’s investment in Victoria.
The AFL will collaborate on all plans with all affiliate leagues and clubs along with state and regional staff to achieve seven core objectives. The are:
- Develop and support appropriate pathways for all segments from NAB AFL Auskick to open age that maximize participation.
- Support well managed leagues, club and school programs to motivate volunteers, umpires, coaches, teachers and sports trainers for all levels of Australian football to promote quality environments.
- Develop the talent pathway and enhance second tier competitions to identify and develop talented players as well as provide a career path for umpires, administrators and coaches.
- Collaborate on facility development for the community football network of leagues and clubs.
- Utilise Australian football as a vehicle to promote community engagement, education, leadership and employment initiatives, particularly in Indigenous and multicultural communities.
- Build relationships with the community to develop fans of the game, the AFL Competition and AFL Clubs.
- Attract, develop and retain quality staff and develop a high performance culture in line with our values.
At the time of writing this report I will be meeting with Peter Jackson to be fully briefed on the changes and the structural transition and opportunities that lie ahead in 2011 and beyond for the VFL Competition and the Sandringham Football Club.
The Sandringham Football Club is strong and successful because of everyone pulling together for a common cause and this is evident in the dedication and devotion of our support staff, volunteers and community support. Thank you to the individual leaders within each group, Rob De Nardis, Noeleen Rice, Bruce Bowles, Lloyd Poad, Wal and Joy Williams, Margaret Brodie, Deb Hampton, Shirley Cross and numerous other volunteers.
Sponsors are extremely important to the Sandringham Football Club and we thank them for their ongoing support in helping us achieve our goals, and for their support of our charities. Special thanks to Robert and Adel Merola (SEW Eurodrive), Simon Tori (Veolia), Gordon and Michele Duncan (Linenhouse) and to all our sponsors, thank you for your support. All our sponsors are equally valuable to the success of the Sandringham Football Club.
I wish to thank the Rampaging Zebras Coterie members and their families for their contribution to the on and off field success of the Club throughout the year. To their President David Marshall I thank you for all your support over the last two years and wish you well in your retirement. I look forward to working with the in coming President John Fowler and his group in 2011.
I am grateful for the support of John Mennie our General Manager, Lucas Blatman and John Kempf as well as all members of the Sandringham Football Club Board. This has been a most difficult year off the field for the Sandringham Football Club, possibly the most difficult in the Club’s history and I again thank John Mennie for his support of the Sandringham Football Club above and beyond the call of duty. I doubt without John’s commitment the Sandringham Football Club would have achieved the off field success and the positive position the Club is in today, enabling us to moving forward in the future. John Kempf is retiring from the Board after many years of loyal service and I thank him personally for all the hard work and commitment he has given as treasurer of many years. John will continue on his role at the Club as a volunteer.
I would like to acknowledge Doug Gardner for his support of Sandringham Football Club and the players throughout the year. We welcome your ongoing financial and hands on support of the Club.
To Andy Lovell, Jeremy Barnard, Grant Holman, Paul Hopgood, and their support staff, thank you for your contribution in 2010. Andy has now moved onto a coaching role with the new Gold Coast Suns and I thank him for his time and efforts at the Sandringham Football Club as senior coach and whish him and his family well and every success for the future.
I would like to acknowledge, Nicholas Sautner as our captain and games and goals record holder. I wish all players that have retired or are moving on, all the best in their future endeavours.
Our new ground lighting has been completed and will enable our players to take full advantage from now on with improved lighting for training. Our new Social Club has opened and I wish to thank John Mennie, Steve O’Sullivan, Dave Burgin and Dennis Galimberti along with many others for their hard work and commitment in getting these projects completed.
The integration of the Sandringham Dragons into the Sandringham Football Club as one Club is continuing. We will continue to work with the AFL and AFL Victoria in progressing this in 2011 and beyond. Thank you to Ryan O’Connor and his team at the Sandringham Dragons for their support in 2010 and we look forward to working with him and his team in the future.
I would like to welcome our new coach Brett Lovell and his team to the Sandringham Football Club and wish them every success both on an off the field. Brett understands that we want the Sandringham Football Club back in our rightful position as premiers of the VFL.
Finally, we need every Sandringham Football Club member, player, past player, volunteer, and supporter to get involved and support our alignment both on and off the field, ensuring not only our financial success but also success on the field by firstly making the finals and then building on that success.
Gerard Ryan
President
Last Modified on 08/12/2010 15:15