SA Footy

Alberton Oval | Sunday 8th June | 2:10pm

A bit more detail below, Alison is leading the club very well.


Dear Members,

The past few days has brought about some significant challenges no doubt, and we are navigating as best we can in some unchartered territory. However, it has reminded us what it means to be part of a strong, supportive football club – one that rallies around its people. As many of you will have seen in the statement issued by our CEO Adam May, our Senior League Coach Adam Hartlett has made the decision to take a period of leave from his coaching duties to prioritise his health and wellbeing.

As a Club, we fully support Adam in this decision. His wellbeing – and that of his family – is far more important than football, and we commend his courage in recognising the need to step back and focus on what truly matters. We all try to understand the demands and pressures that come with senior coaching, but no one really knows until they’ve sat in that Coaches Box on game day. We recognise that Adam has poured his heart and soul into this role, and he has the full backing of the Board, the playing group, and the entire West Adelaide Football Club community during this time. We remain in close contact with Adam and will continue to support him in every way possible.

In light of Adam’s leave, the Board has yesterday approved the recommendation from our CEO and our Head of Football Paul Streatfield to appoint Sam Elliot as Interim Senior Coach. Sam is the most experienced coach within our ranks and has been selected as the right choice to lead the group. His understanding of the playing group and Adam’s coaching plans plus a strong alignment with our Club’s values make him the ideal person to provide continuity, and stability, at this time for the Club. We thank Sam for stepping into this role and know he’ll have the full support of the players, staff, and members. Please get around Sam and show your support for him, and his willingness to coach showing his true commitment to Westies.

While these unforeseen changes are certainly significant, I think it’s important we also take time to reflect on the many positive results of last weekend’s games. Overall, it was a successful round, with more of our teams winning than not. Our Women’s team secured a nail biting 1-point victory, led by a peak performance by our Captain, Madi Russell, who had a great performance in her 50th game – a fantastic milestone and an inspiring effort from Madi and the team. Congratulations to the girls. We are still a chance here at finals!
In our junior ranks, we were proud to see Chad Fruend awarded Best Player in our Under 16s – an achievement that is more than outstanding and a testament to Chad’s character, dedication, and the development pathways we are building for our junior players. Our most sincere and heartfelt congratulations to Chad and in fact all of our Best Player award winners across the grades.

This weekend, we’ve got games across three ovals so where it suits you, please get along and show your support. Starting at home on Friday night for our U16 and U18. The reserves and Women’s league will be down south on Saturday, and our men take on Port Adelaide at Alberton on Sunday!

We held the 2015 Reunion last Friday night and I’m thrilled to say that the Club raised more than $15k on the night, auctioning off some incredible WAFC memorabilia specific to 2015 premiership win and the playing group. We heard from the leadership group of the day who spoke about that particular preseason, the many games leading into the finals series, the trials, and tribulations along the way. Above all they spoke about the trust and belief they had in each other, that was built from a shared goal, and accountability, an open style of communication and the non-negotiable commitment that they demonstrated at every. single. session. Mark Mickan attended and answered questions from the MC, Ben Hook, about the premiership season, and the calculated risks he took that day that paid off in spades. The courage and backing he had from that side on that day, was measured in the result itself.
It was nothing short of spine tingling to listen to.

We had past presidents and CEO’s there, also involved in conversation with the MC who shared their experiences with the crowd, and of course our many loyal supporters and sponsors who continue at every opportunity to show up and help the Club. The staff who assisted before and on the night to bring it all together, thank you. The event was a success and everyone I have spoken to have had only positive feedback to give.

I want to also take this opportunity to acknowledge the great work of our Coterie Groups and contribution that they make at West Adelaide Football Club. The Past Players & Officials helped fund the costs of the 2015 reunion dinner and in the very same week, the Westonians transferred a significant sum to the Club, thanks to their various fundraising efforts and activations. I am told that over 2,000 tickets are now sold for the $10,000 Westonians raffle, which is an extraordinary result, so good luck to all that have purchased tickets and a sincere thank you to those that actively fundraise and seek to give back to the Club that they know and love.

Around the place, you may have now seen Tayla, our new functions manager. Tayla has hit the ground running and is focusing on an upcoming Ladies Day event that has had large amounts of interest for some time that will be announced very shortly, so I look forward to seeing what she comes up with for our members to enjoy! Say hello if you get the chance, and don’t be shy if you have any ideas!

In anticipation, we have coordinated an important meeting of the minds coming up shortly to discuss the future facility and options for WAFC to facilitate some much-needed upgrades. We will determine what funding options we have in the short, medium and long term to ensure we have a pathway to becoming the destination club we are all striving for. These conversations continue to gain more momentum, and I look forward to providing more of an update on that very soon.

This Club has many layers, but we are all part of this Club. On the field and off – we remain united, especially in our support for Adam Hartlett.
Thank you, as always, for your loyalty, passion, and belief in the red and black.

Kind Regards
Alison

Alison Surjan
President, West Adelaide Football Club

Agree.

The President’s messages are well written and welcomed by members.
However, they are words. We actually need actions now.

For years we have heard about 3,4 and 5 year plans.
Nothing has happened.

Things need to happen quickly otherwise the club is finished.

PORT

League

F Ewan Mackinlay, Ollie Lord, Ivan Soldo

HF Benny Barrett, Jack Whitlock, Joe Berry

C Josh Lai, Will Lorenz, Tom Anastasopoulos

HB Jez McLennan, Dylan Williams, Logan Evans

B Kyle Marshall, Harrison Ramm, Rory Atkins

R Jordon Sweet, Jack Watkins, Jed McEntee

INT Rome Burgoyne, Bailey Chamberlain, Lachlan Charleson, Nicholas Couroupis, Mani Liddy, Nick Moore, Jake Weidemann

IN Rory Atkins, Logan Evans, Josh Lai, Mani Liddy, Ollie Lord, Ewan Mackinlay, Kyle Marshall, Harrison Ramm, Dylan Williams

OUT Kye Roberts, Miller Carter, Aidan Turner, Cormack O’Reilly, Ryan Carnelly, Shay Linke

NEW Mani Liddy (Central District), Ewan Mackinlay (North Adelaide), Harrison Ramm (Glenelg)





WEST

League

F Michael Laudato, Tom Scully, Harvey Griffiths

HF Cade Kennedy, Ned Stevens, Dylan McCormick

C Jonti Schuback, Kobe Ryan, Joel Parker

HB Callum Park, Hamish Ellem, Tom Morrish

B Adam Bunworth, Cooper Patterson, Charlie Haysman

R Caleb May, Brady Searle, Jesse Thackeray

INT Samuel Burbridge, Riley Corbett, Sam Davidson, Sam Frost, Ray Harding, William Patton, Lachlan Squire

IN Riley Corbett, Ray Harding, Cade Kennedy, Callum Park, Ned Stevens

OUT Riley Hill (Hamstring), Dylan Bramich (Omitted)

NEW Ray Harding (Henley/South Adelaide)

West sitting on the bottom, playing a team that's just been able to recruit 3 quality players, halfway through the season. Disgrace.

West by 3 pts.

Spargo wrote:West by 3 pts.

5 minutes into the game maybe...

Port by 115pts

MW wrote:

Spargo wrote:West by 3 pts.

5 minutes into the game maybe...

Port by 119pts

It was right there...

wenchbarwer wrote:

MW wrote:

Spargo wrote:West by 3 pts.

5 minutes into the game maybe...

Port by 119pts

It was right there...

This where we insert the ‘right in front of me’ man?

Dogs64 wrote:West sitting on the bottom, playing a team that's just been able to recruit 3 quality players, halfway through the season. Disgrace.

Yep, farcical,
another reason why matches involving Port or the Crows should be played with no points.

SANFL don't give a shit about West Adelaide even without this issue of allowing mid season AFL draft players to change clubs. Its the difference between losing by 70 or losing by 100.

Powerserves by 33pts.

Port to win by only 75 due to the rain.

Bloods up by 10 at half time.

Bloods down by 8 at lemon time.

Unfortunately, Port kick 9.1 to zip in the last … Vaffunculo.

Being a Westies supporter you get use to it unfortunately
I don't even bother going anymore but I do live in the country now so I'm not driving for 2 hour's knowing we are going to lose

Credit to West and the fans that made the journey, they showed up for the first half then Port's big men took over.

Sweet took control of the middle, Lord, Soldo and Whitlock the front half with Liddy and Charleson swooping on anything loose and behind the ball Evans and Burgoyne mopped up what Ramm and Lai didn't.

There looked to be a decent number at the U18’s champs game beforehand, is that tally included in the crowd figure or seperate?