DEMONS UPDATE

 EDITION TWO – DECEMBER 2013

BY ANDREW OWEN

AGM Recap

 The Annual General Meeting was held this week and the Perth Football Club is very pleased to announce a small profit for the 2013 season.

 Around fifty people attended the AGM where a range of topics such as the Lathlain Park Redevelopment, 2013 season, fixturing and recruiting for the 2014 season were discussed.

 President Vince Pendal discussed the Lathlain Park Redevelopment and some of the key points mentioned were:

• In the next few months we should expect the designs for the Perth Football Club facilities to completed
• A new long term lease (20 years) to be entered into with the Town Of Victoria Park, governing the areas of which we will occupy
• The designs for the West Coast Eagles facilities should be well advanced and we hope to see those by the end of the first quarter of 2014
• The West Coast Eagles have agreed to fund $1 million towards the new facilities of the Perth Football Club
• The West Coast Eagles have also agreed with the Town Of Victoria Park to fund the redevelopment of Lathlain Place.  This work will commence very shortly
• The League and Development teams will train on the main oval while the Colts and Community Clubs will train on the second oval
• The lighting on the main oval will be sufficient for AFL standard games.  This will allow us to host preseason games for the AFL and also have our own Friday night games

Most people were keen to see what the board’s thoughts were on the 2013 season and any potential recruits for the 2014 season.  These questions were handled by Vice President and Director of Football, Daryle Mann.

 Here are a few snippets of what Daryle had to say on the night:

 “The Annual Report covers the report of our Football Operations Manager Brendan Kays and our League Coach Damien McMahon.  This is worth a read and is a good overview of the 2013 season.  However we have to be quite honest and look the world in the eye; the season did finish up on a disappointing note.”

“Last year you may recall me sitting here and saying that we had a comprehensive review after only winning six games for the 2012 season.  Out of this review came four factors.”

1. We needed to increase our coaching depth
2. We needed to increase the fitness of the players
3. We needed a better player culture and a better leadership within our group.  This was very poor and was not going to get us to where we needed to go
4. Our game plan flexibility needed some tweaking

“It was good to see that in each of those four areas in 2013 we made some significant improvements.”

“It is with great pleasure that I can announce that Jackson Dennis has signed on for another year.  He is an exceptional fitness coordinator and strength and conditioning coach.” 

“He said that the playing group at the moment are ahead of where we were at this time last year by about 10%.  The fitness levels have really improved.  At the end of the 2013 football season all the players were given strength and conditioning programs and the players have been sticking to that.”

“There has been a remarkable turnaround in the player culture this season.  We got rid of a lot of players from the club at the end of last season.  The leadership and the culture shown by the club and the players have been terrific and we will continue to improve on this.”

“Chris Billings has returned to the club.  He has come back and wants to have another crack at league football.”

“We have been speaking to a couple of names with VFL/AFL experience.  We are very disappointed to have missed out on James Sellar who has gone to South Fremantle.”

“We continue to improve from within and we are looking positively at a bright future and a very bright 2014.  There is a great feeling amongst the playing group and they are committed to getting into the finals next year.”

Peter Gilkison Awarded Life Membership

At the recent AGM, long time member Peter Gilkison was awarded life membership of the Perth Football Club.

Peter first joined the club in 1972 and became a member of the patrons club in 1976.

Peter was Chairman of the first auction committee in 1984 and was a board member from 1985-1989.  He has been a member of the Past Players & Officials Association since 1987 and continues to be a part of this organisation today.

Other roles Peter has served include being a trustee of the Centurions fund, representing the club at the President’s council and being a vice patron of the club for the past nine years.

On receiving his award Peter said that it was a great honour to receive life membership of the club.

“I would just like to say how overwhelmed I am and most of you would know I am not normally lost for words.”

“I would just like to thank everyone that his here tonight who supported the motion and I can assure you that I will continue to do my upmost to make this club successful again.”

The Perth Football Club would like to congratulate Peter on this terrific achievement.

Pre Season Training

The squad has been out on the track for more than a month now, sweating it out in preparation for the 2014 WAFL season.

The final training session for 2013 will be held on Friday December 20 with the players resuming on Monday January 6.

Training sessions are held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Lathlain Park, beginning at 5:30pm.

Farwell Brownes

The Perth Football Club wishes to advise that Brownes has decided not to continue with its sponsorship of the club for the 2014 season.  Brownes has been the major naming rights partner of the club since 2011.

The club are now looking for a new major naming rights partner for 2014 and beyond.

Kade Lang Returns

The Perth Football Club is very excited to welcome former player Kade Lang back to the club in his new role as an Assistant Coach.

Lang played 119 games for the Demons, retiring in 2011.  He has spent the last two years as midfield coach for the Subiaco Colts.

New Colts Coach

 Barry Stanton will be the new coach of the Perth Colts in 2014.  This year Barry was Assistant Coach to Wayne Langbourne and has been associated with the club for a long time.

Barry was appointed after a very impressive presentation and the Perth Football Club is looking forward to good things from the colts in 2014.

Scott Stevens Returns

Scott Stevens who played 144 games in the AFL with Sydney and Adelaide has been signed as an Assistant Coach for the Perth Colts in 2014.

Scott will know exactly what the young up and coming Demons players will be going through as he was a member of the Perth Football Club before he was drafted in 1999 by the Swans.

The Perth Football Club would like to wish Scott all the best in his new role at the club.

2014 Memberships Now Available

Memberships for the 2014 season are now available from the office and also online.

The club had great support throughout the 2013 season and would love to see that support continue into next year.

This year the club is giving members the chance to win and Apple iPad Mini 16GB WI-Fi Cellular White for those that purchase memberships before close of business on Thursday December 19.  This fantastic prize is valued at $486.00 and has been donated to us by The Good Guys Belmont.

Pre Christmas Merchandise Sale

Valid Until 20 December 2013 or While Stocks Last

To make way for new stock in 2014, some merchandise items are now on sale.

Take advantage of our pre Christmas sale to grab a real bargain.

Buy now online by visiting our team store, by phone on 9362 4499 or visit our office at the corner of Goddard and Bishopgate Street, Lathlain.

Please note member discount does not apply to sale items.

Members Christmas Party – NEXT WEEK 

With Christmas less than two weeks away why not come down and join in the festivities of the 2013 Members Christmas Party.

This is the perfect chance to catch up with people you might not have seen since the season concluded, have a couple of beverages, find out what is happening at the club, enjoy a free sausage sizzle and watch the boys final training session for the year.

The Christmas Party will be held NEXT Friday December 20 and start at 5:30pm in the can bar at Lathlain Park.

Christmas Holidays 

The Perth Football Club would like to advise all members and supporters that the office will be closed from Friday December 20 until Monday January 6.  All staff wishes you a happy and safe festive season and you are able to recharge the batteries ahead of the 2014 football season.