FD02e Year Book 2002-REV - Fremantle Football Club

the chairmanThe 2002season was acritical year forthe FremantleFootball ClubTHE STRUCTURE, operations and businessprocesses of the Club were subjected tosubstantial scrutiny and change over thecourse of the year. All operating divisionsof the Club were significantly restructuredunder the stewardship of our new ChiefExecutive Officer Cameron Schwab.We have indeed come a long way in 2002but we still have an equally long way to goto set the foundations for a great footballClub. We have clearly identified thechallenges facing us and have earnestlybegun the task of addressing thosechallenges head-on.The Board of Management and the seniorexecutives have developed a StrategicPlan for 2003 to 2005 and we havegathered quality people to deliver theobjectives of that plan.While we are very much focused on thefuture, we can look back on season 2002with pride as the first step our Club hasmade on its quest to be a consistentfinals contender and earn respect inthe AFL competition.The Club’s on-field performancesdemonstrated why the Club is regardedas having one of the most exciting youngplaying lists in the AFL. Senior coachChris Connolly has developed strong,professional team structures together withtraining programmes and a game plan thatearned the respect of the players andopposition teams. These are the strongfoundations for the Club’s continued onfield development.While Subiaco Oval was restored asaground to be feared by visiting clubs,with memorable victories against grandfinalists Collingwood, finalists Melbourneand Essendon, and 2001 finalistsHawthorn, our performances away fromhome did not yield success. Fremantletravelled more than any other AFL clubin 2002 and faced an extremely difficulttravel schedule playing games in Adelaide,Melbourne, Launceston, Geelong,Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane – but noexcuses, we must bridge the gap betweenour best and worst, home and away.Financially, 2002 saw the Club achievea significant turnaround of approximately$1.0m from the 2001 loss of $2.5 million.This was achieved in a season that saw allclubs under significant financial pressuresand further reflects the real inroads wehave made off the field in 2002. However,we still have work to do to achieve a result“in the black” and all our efforts over thecoming 12 months will focus on ourstrategic priority of long term financialstability to allow us to make thecontribution to WA football required of us.While the past has not yielded the successthat the Club’s stakeholders may haveexpected, especially the Club’s loyal andpassionate supporters, the foundationshave been laid with the strategy,objectives and people to successfullyaddress every challenge facing the Club.RICK HARTFremantle Football Club 2002 Year Book 3