INS AND OUTS

When’s the club going to let members know about the
Players that have left to go country?
I agree with Lachlan, we are in trouble

Going
Chris Schmidt (retired/Eudunda-Robertstown), Jono Beech (Broadbeach/Overseas), Errin Wasley-Black (Aspley), Hugh Haysman (VFL), Dustin Head (retired), Nigel Osborn (work)

That’s what the club lists as outs.
But I will bet my hard earned money on it there are more outs then that.
It’s disappointing the club thinks little about its members and doesn’t keep them in the loop.
Watch a country league within our zone. Couple names other then Middleton will be amongst the leading goals kickers I suspect

I also fear for our club.

I hope one day the members get it back.

redblack32 wrote:When’s the club going to let members know about the
Players that have left to go country?
I agree with Lachlan, we are in trouble

Unless something miraculous happens, we are in deep trouble. We began the 2019 season full of hope. We were judged to have recruited better than most other clubs and look at the outcome. By mid season, the club knew what our deficiencies were and which personnel, barring a few exceptions, would have to be replaced. Given that, we should have been pro-active and began the process much earlier, although I guess recruiters should always be looking for potential recruits. How ironic, we complain about a reduced salary cap and when we finally get it back, we have trouble spending it. The only players recruited so far have come from clubs that don't consider them to be in their best 21. These players might help make us a bit quicker, but surely our greatest deficiency was not being able to kick more than 10 goals. What has been done to change this. If you don't count Keough's forward forays, then Beech was our only marking forward. He won't be with us in 2020.
Gavin was a good appointment, but he needs quality personnel to work with otherwise 2020 will be a repeat of the previous four. If this is the case then we are in serious trouble. The board can focus on improving our financial standing, but without on-field success we will not survive long term. To expect to grow our membership/attendances without on-field success is ridiculous. I hate being pessimistic, but unless we pick up 4-5 high quality recruits we will finish bottom again. And if the board don't report an improvement in our finances at the next AGM, which according to Murray's message to members is unlikely, then how can members be expected to have faith in the present administration/board/football department?
There can be no excuses. I would say that we need to win at least 8 games, a 300% improvement, which is what we achieved in 2018. If there are no significant additions to the current squad, then 8 wins will not be possible. I am deeply disappointed in our recruiting so far, hopefully members will get good news soon. I wonder how the membership drive is going.

Lee Harradine wrote:I also fear for our club.

I hope one day the members get it back.

You’re only just seeing what we have been seeing for at least the past decade

I've been seeing it for a lifetime, brodlach.

I eventually tried to do something about it.

You?

Whilst I have not been on the board does member, former sponsor and former junior (before injuries ended my playing career) count?

Yes, it counts for a lot, brodlach.

We're all Bloods' supporters, so how about we put that first and end the sniping?

I wasn’t sniping, it was an observation.

It wasn't just about you, mate, it refers to all of us.  I said:

We're all Bloods' supporters, so how about we put that first and end the sniping?

Perhaps off topic but seems like good time to thank all who have in the past or now are contributing to our club ---- whilst honestly those who are sponsors are very appreciated given the financial situation it is realized that many cannot contribute in this way but can impact by giving by being Members and attending games (if health allows) and probably even more by giving feedback to the club (via Facebook or telephone) so that those who are leading the club are not working in a vacuum.

I would also encourage all supporters to attend preseason training sessions where they can --- the players and staff appreciate it and will make you welcome further its the best way to get a real gauge on where we are at ---- whilst I agree we have issues its not all doom and gloom.

While I rarely leave my home (medical condition) last Wednesday night I went to training and was made very welcome also got the opportunity to have a chat with the Coach and CEO among others and all are very aware and concerned with the same issues that we have --- whilst I will not discuss what I was told in confidence it seems fair to say that they are making changes and are working proactively to try and address those concerns.

I agree with Lachlan, Redblack 32 and others that we badly need to recruit some experienced hard bodied good footballer preferably key position to put in with what a I consider is a very promising squad of younger players just coming into their prime (50 + games) also I feel that we are perhaps underrating several of the young imports from other clubs that whilst they were fringe just breaking into league football they are now are ready to flower as league footballers and do have talent.

It will be interesting to see if anything is gained after the AFL draft but would be a bit surprised as many of those on the draft fringe are already tied up. hope I am wrong.

I hope we can recruit well, oldfella.

The problem I see now is as follows:

We have perhaps only 3 or 4 experienced players left who were West Adelaide juniors, probably the lowest for decades.  Due mainly to the boundaries from a few years ago, most of our promising juniors are still 2 years away from being good league players.  If he's not rookied, I'd hope Noah Hannigan might step up as a forward.  Despite your optimism, I can't see any other juniors making a significant difference next season.  

I worry about where our goals will come from.  For years now, our leading goalkicker award has been won with about 20 goals or even less and I can't see that changing unless we can recruit a delisted key forward..

Our midfield will be boosted by Josh Schiller, but is very thin.  I think Murray Waite will continue his great progress and I'd hope the same for Patrick Fairlie.

We desperately need several quality recruits.  Gavin is working flat out travelling and interviewing potential recruits, but try persuading recruits to come to a club that rarely wins a game and has had off-field disruptions as well.

The club has spoken to just about all the recruits that have landed at other clubs.  We haven't missed anyone, I just admire Gavin for the hard work he's doing in such a difficult environment.

it’s definitely harder to recruit players when you have finished bottom, on the flip side we probably had more money in our salary cap then any other club.

Finishing at or near the bottom of the ladder is not an excuse for poor recruiting. Other SANFL clubs have proved this. Andy Collins was a very effective recruiter when we were down the bottom. The question is why, to this point, we are not persuasive enough. This is a question the club needs to, firstly, ask, and then answer.

I spoke to Andrew Collins today about that very issue, aldo.

Very illuminating.

Aldo Russian, ur 100% correct.
Andy Collins recruited a bloke by the name of Ryan Ferguson to a club who had just won 3 wooden spoons was it? And the off field was even worse then it is now? (Kym russell)
He ended up ok
The club needs to deliver.
It’s becoming more and more obvious each day that members don’t mean much..

I also agree with Aldo’s last post. Collins Recruited very well when the club was bottom. There is no excuse for not signing players just because you are bottom.
As a football dept its a fundamental part of your job.

All I can say is that whatever the reasons/ excuses etc., its hardly the first off season where we appear to be bottom of the line in recruiting, so its just more of the same from my perspective. It is quite disherartening watching many of the league level players move on after a bad season and knowing that all of your rivals who already finished above you have signed the cream of the available recruits. Compound this with the presidents report which indicates all of the changes have yet to make the club more profitable (after what was already going on under the previous structure to improve this anyway) but that things are "looking up" for 2020 despite no evidence to indicate any reasons for optimism, I really wonder what WAFC exists for anymore?
Does not feel like a club for members anymore that is for sure, so really worried where any optimism is going to be generated from if we dont sgn 4-5 high quality, league ready recruits which honestly feels unlikely after the draft.

I agree with you, loppy19.  We all want to support the new Board, but when a new Board is 'appointed', you would hope they would try to bring the club together.  Instead, so many good, long-standing members were purged and offers of help, even on sub-committees after the President, at the members' forum, appealed for members to put up their hands to help, were not only refused, but actively discouraged.

The kitchen is an example of where experience at the club counts.  The previous two years were our first trading profits for a decade.  Reversing the kitchen losses by contracting it out (a good initiative by experienced CEO John Kantilaftas) was a major part of that.  He, I and others warned those wanting change that running the kitchen ourselves would be a disaster and that a chef could also suddenly leave and no service would follow.  My opposition to the club taking over the kitchen was quoted to me as a reason why I was 'holding the club back'.

I asked recently how the kitchen was going.  'It's a disaster', I was told.  I note there was no service the previous Saturday because the chef had walked out and I have been told that most long-standing bar and gaming staff have also recently left.

IMO, the Board has two choices:  try to bring the club together, by accepting that we all want it to succeed, or carry on regardless and blame previous Boards and others for any problems while they're in charge.

I'm only speaking out now because of our situation, as a loyal West Adelaide supporter who hopes the Board chooses option 1.

Let's hope we can recruit well and give Gavin something to work with.

Finally, members are important.

From the website



The West Adelaide Football Club are is pleased to announce the contract extensions of Logan Hill, Kaine Stevens and Tom Keough.

In 2019, Vice-Captain Logan Hill took home his first Neil Kerley Medal after 13 years at the club. He became a player life member and played his 150th league game. We are looking forward to the 2020 season with Logan Hill dominating the back line once again. Hill said, “I love playing for this club and it’s a privilege every time I pull on the jumper and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Midfielder Kaine Stevens has also re-signed with the Bloods. Kaine was the runner up in the Neil Kerley Medal after winning the award in 2017 and 2018. Kaine was 8th in the league for clearances and 4th in the league for disposals.

Skipper Tom Keough will also continue in red and black in 2020. Tom has been a strong leader and has shown he can play in defence, the forward line or through the midfield. Keough said, “It’s an honour to play for West Adelaide and am excited to sign on for 2020. The club had a challenging year and I’m looking forward to improving our position and getting to work in preseason.”

Pre season officially kicks off tonight with the full squad back on deck.

Logan, Kaine and Thomas have signed on for 2020 – have you?

Nice we announced something positive

Lee Harradine wrote:
The kitchen is an example of where experience at the club counts.  The previous two years were our first trading profits for a decade.  Reversing the kitchen losses by contracting it out (a good initiative by experienced CEO John Kantilaftas) was a major part of that.  He, I and others warned those wanting change that running the kitchen ourselves would be a disaster and that a chef could also suddenly leave and no service would follow.  My opposition to the club taking over the kitchen was quoted to me as a reason why I was 'holding the club back'.

I asked recently how the kitchen was going.  'It's a disaster', I was told.  I note there was no service the previous Saturday because the chef had walked out and I have been told that most long-standing bar and gaming staff have also recently left.

I have been critical of the new board primarily for a lack of communication. Now more than ever, the board needs to be keeping members informed. Why, assuming the post above is correct, have we lost a chef and long serving staff? I have already mentioned that both Ben and Murray assured me that feedback regarding the bistro and bar had been positive. This was their answer to me when I claimed that quality of service and meals had declined since last year. I raised other concerns and was reassured that all was well. Clearly, everything is not going well. I fear for the future of our club. The club is planning a membership drive, presumably to grow the membership. What will entice people to buy memberships? As the business men and women on the board realise, it is much easier to sell an attractive product. At the moment that is not the WAFC.
Innovation was put forward as one of the reasons for a change to a nominated board. I have seen no evidence of this so far. I suggested to Murray that the club’s gym might be commercialised, so that a new income stream could be tapped into. Gym memberships could be sold separately or included in club memberships. Surely this wouldn’t take a great deal of work or capital to set up. The business people on the board would have an idea how to go about this.
What about a café on wheels. The ‘Wolfmobile’ could be present at all oval events throughout the year, service the Western suburbs and offer breakfast at the club each morning. This would open up another income stream as well as being a great promotional tool. If I remember correctly, wasn’t there a plan to add a café to the existing building. The mobile idea would be cheaper and more effective. Of course I have no idea how feasible these options would be, but then I’m not a businessman.

Certainly a wide-ranging thread this one. I don't want to start a new one just for this query, so given our fitness issues in 2019, does anyone know what changes have been made  in the fitness area? Have we changed our head of fitness? Changed our programmes? Changed our benchmarks?

I like allowing the public to use the Gym for a fee. Good idea Bruce.
Likewise I fear for our club and am waiting in anticipation to see some real improvement that changing to an "Appointed Board" that we were promised would occur.

I can confirm Lee's comments above.
All is not what it seems around the club at the moment.
But as in all stories told by different sides the Truth will always lay somewhere in the middle.
We have regular patrons at the bar on a day to day basis and for them to have the same face serve them their regular drink without even asking is Priceless in my opinion.
The regulars are there for various reasons but what ever the reasons are you don't want to Pee them off and give them a reason to go elsewhere (the options are plentiful).

As for the Gym idea - great in theory but the practical side comes down to cost - insurance would be the big one.
The mobile Cafe is a good one to explore but more along the lines of a Container converted to a Cafe House (have we anyone that can do this sort of thing, yes we do) sitting just inside the car park that can serve good coffee and do a bacon & egg breakfast or a toasted Sandwich for lunch, something simple.

GO THE BLOODS