It’s been a hectic, albeit exciting and very enjoyable, few weeks. Gather Round was not only a big event for South Australia but it turned out to be an important one for our Club as well.
Beating an in-form team like Carlton in a marquee time slot, which launched the inaugural footy festival, gave us three straight wins and further enhanced the belief and confidence that is growing among our playing group. While we have built some momentum, we are only five rounds into the season so a healthy dose of perspective is required and we must remain focussed. Heading to Tasmania is always a challenging road trip and we will have our work cut out against the Hawks, who have won majority of their games down there.
The SANFL team has started its season with a couple of convincing wins and it means that when needed we are elevating players who are in form. There’s genuine pressure for spots. SANFL coach Mick Godden, along with our development coaches Marco Bello, Jack Hombsch, Chelsea Randall and Matt Wright, deserve a shout out for their work behind the scenes.
Off-field we were pleased to finalise a contract extension for Jordon Butts, who we see as a long-term player for us. Big reliable defenders like him are hard to find. Max Michalanney is showing that he has the composure and footy smarts to be a very good player and this week’s rising star nomination was just reward for his game day efforts. Few players are able to transition into life as an AFL player as well as him.
The response to our Gather Round jumper, which showcased a heritage version of our logo in a nod to the past, was incredible with the initial batch of online stock selling out in literally a matter of minutes. Fortunately, you can still get your hands on one if you order now as we are expecting another delivery in June. We were intending to use the guernsey as a one-off but given its popularity we are now going to wear it again in Round 22 against Brisbane.
I would like to acknowledge our Head Trainer Vinnie Del Bono who has notched up 30 years of service today. From strapping players ankles through to packing and coordinating the huge amounts of equipment that we take on road trips, he’s just about seen it all. He’s known to even stay overnight at the Club with injured players to ensure they get the right treatment in the race against time to be fit for the next game. Footy clubs are better places for having people like Vinnie around. Three decades at any organisation or industry is a big achievement, let alone in the fast-paced and pressure cooker environment like the AFL. Well done Vinnie and thanks for your hard work!
Let’s hope we claim win number four of the season by beating Hawthorn on Sunday although history says it’s not an easy road trip. Good luck to the SANFL team against Central District too. Finally, thanks for your support and we appreciated you turning up in big numbers at Adelaide Oval over the past few weeks. Go Crows!
Regards, Tim
