FD16a FFCDN0104-REV.indd - Fremantle Football Club

Directory Strand titleFREMANTLE FOOTBALL CLUB LTDThe Official Magazine of the Fremantle Football ClubParry Street, Fremantle WA 6160P.O. Box 381, Fremantle WA 6959T: (08) 9433 7000 F: (08) 9433 7001 – administrationT: (08) 9433 7111 – membership F: (08) 9433 7002 – marketingfremantlefc@fremantlefc.com.auwww.fremantlefc.com.auBoard of DirectorsRick Hart (President), Len Hitchen (Vice President), Mel Ashton,Gary Berrell, Tony Buhagiar, Les Everett, David Garic, David Rawlinson,Greg WallManagementCameron SchwabChief Executive OfficerGary WaltonChief Financial OfficerKeith BlackCorporate Affairs and Communications ManagerSteve RosichMarketing ManagerNarelle FinchSponsorship and Special Projects ManagerSteven IckeFootball ManagerChris ConnollySenior CoachEdition 1, 2004A Product of the Fremantle Football Club Communications Department.Email: media@fremantlefc.com.auSponsors in 2004Major SponsorPremier SponsorsDesign & ProductionScout Creative© 2004 Coca-Cola and RealRefreshment are registered trademarks of the Coca-Cola Company.Corporate SponsorsPB Foods (Peters & Brownes) • Rick Hart Group • Jadan SpasPhillips Fox • Telstra • Burswood International Resort CasinoBunnings • Patersons Securities • Corporate Sports AustraliaThe Movie Masters • Golf Club Kennedy Bay • Mirvac FiniMedia SponsorsChannel Nine • The West Australian • Network TEN • FOXTELWIN Television • 92.9PrintingLamb Print1 Wing Court 9 Robertson StreetMaylands WA 6051 Perth WA 6000T: (08) 9371 8257 T: (08) 9328 1533info@scoutcreative.com.auInserts And Flysheet AdvertisingCommunications Department, Fremantle Football ClubI AM IN THE FORTUNATE POSITIONwhereby I regularly have the opportunityof talking to corporate groups aboutthe Fremantle Football Club as part ofbuilding the club’s profile in this sector.This is both enjoyable and enlightening,as it also provides the opportunity toget feedback on the club from a broadrange of people who will freely give theiropinions.What is clear is that there is an enormousamount of interest in football and theFremantle Football Club. That would notcome as a surprise to anyone, but in thecontext of size of the business that wemanage, it always amazes me that thereare so many high level people who areseeking to learn from what we do.Under just about any measurement, an AFL club is a small to mediumsize business. That it attracts the amount of interest from the broadestrange of people is just one of the aspects of this environment thatmakes it different, and perhaps the reason why a person such as ChrisConnolly attracts as much interest as he does each time he speaks at acorporate function. The fact that he is highly entertaining and articulateadds to the mix, but there are many who seek to gain from the manylessons that a senior coach has learnt in the cut throat environment ofAFL football.There has been a great deal of focus on Fremantle over the past yearand in particular the turnaround that has occurred both as football teamand as a business. Both are clearly linked and Chris Connolly has playeda key role in both. What has often been underestimated in all of this isthat the product itself had, and continues to have, enormous potentialand it is appropriate to give recognition to those who set the Club up inthe first place. We take for granted many facets of this club which arenow central to the strong position we are now establishing, but moreimportantly will form the core of the powerful club that we must becomeif we are going to be a consistent premiership contender. These include:1. The fact we are Fremantle – based in Fremantle and an extension ofthe great Fremantle sporting tradition. At the same time we are notlimited by our heritage. As I have often said the word Fremantle is anoun, verb and adjective.2. We are different, a little bit edgy. We wear purple, a colour we aremaking our own. The anchor is a great symbol, despite misgivingsabout it tethering us to the bottom.3. Our football has also somehow been different, for lots of reasons.There was Gerard Neesham’s style of play, our indigenous players,the space and run at Subiaco, and with a promise from the coach toplay more attacking football this year, it would seem that this willcontinue.Many of the reasons why Fremantle was criticised and mocked in itsearly days are now the same reasons why we have a great opportunityof building a great club. Even the club song is starting to sound good.There is great expectation at Fremantle, and that is very importantas we build this club. Great clubs set high standards and have highexpectations. We will not however get ahead of ourselves in this regardas we are realistic in terms of our maturity, and there are factors thatwe cannot control. We aim to make the eight, win a final, but at thesame time build one of the great clubs.Fremantle will have its day, let there be no doubt.© Fremantle Football Club 2004. All rights reserved. Without limiting the rightsunder copyright above, no part of this publication shall be reproduced, stored inor introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the priorpermission of the Fremantle Football Club.COVER PHOTOGRAPH: James Walker at Fremantle Oval.All action photography by Getty Images, Official AFL Photographic Agency.Cameron SchwabChief Executive Officer2 Fremantle Football Club March 2004