We've heard plenty of coaches, officials, fans and other experts across the country suggest that this year’s competition is one of the most even in years - and I think they may be right! There is now a solid bank of evidence to suggest that any team can beat another on any given day.
In our backyard, it was good to see Pykey and the boys get the job done in Brisbane off the back of a couple of tough weeks. It was just as pleasing to see our SANFL team score a come from behind win over West Adelaide too!
This week is one of my favourites on the football calendar because we celebrate the wonderful contributions of Indigenous players both past and present. Staff, coaches and players came together on Wednesday for a special ceremony where Crows legend Andrew McLeod provided us with an informative and emotional insight into the lives and thoughts of Indigenous players, while also touching on the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum where Australians overwhelmingly voted to change the Constitution and grant more rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It was a special experience and one that touched me deeply.
As a Club, our number one fixture request with the AFL each year is that we continue to host this round, and the League has recognised our top class match day experience and the manner in which you have embraced the occasion. We will work extremely hard to ensure it remains a prominent part of our draw. Saturday night will once again be remarkable. I encourage you to get to the ground early so you don't miss the lights being turned off and Adelaide Oval hosting a spectacular ceremony and lights display.
There has been plenty of other things happening off the field including the re-signing of 20 players from our inaugural and premiership-winning AFLW squad, such as Erin Phillips, Ebony Marinoff, Chelsea Randall, Courtney Cramey and Ange Foley. This obviously bodes well for next season and the players’ willingness to stay put reflects the camaraderie and strong culture that has been forged in a short period of time.
One of the most exciting announcements was our purchase of an eSports team which was an Australian first for a traditional sporting club. Some of you might have been asking what on earth is an eSports team? It is competitive video-gaming with tournaments played online and in stadiums where teams of professional players battle each other in a variety of games.
We have bought Sydney-based Legacy eSports which is one of the top tier teams in the Oceanic Pro League and plays League of Legends, which is the most popular video game on the planet. The players will soon arrive home from a training camp in South Korea before heading off to Vietnam early next month to compete against teams from across Asia. As I said at the time of the announcement, eSports is a global phenomenon.
I have also been asked quite a few times why we are entering this domain. Firstly, it fits within our strategic focus and our commitment to innovation and growth. Our traditional revenue streams are at record levels and if the Club is to grow we must look towards fresh opportunities and eSports, along with a few other exciting initiatives in the pipeline, has the potential to deliver both commercial and fan engagement outcomes.
In recent times, a number of international clubs, teams and athletes- like the NBA, Philadelphia 76ers and Manchester City- have invested in eSports outfits and for good reason. It is $1.2 billion industry and has an international audience of close to 250 million people, most of whom are aged 14-34 years. The AFL has also recently spoken about staging tournaments at Etihad Stadium given their popularity and ability to draw a crowd.
Importantly, our current day-to-day operations will not be affected and our core objectives of winning football games, and ultimately a premiership, remain the same. However, we are determined to look for ways to make the Club strong and secure for generations to come.
Right now though our primary focus is on beating Fremantle on Saturday night. It’s first versus fifth and the Dockers come across the Nullarbor as a form team and it looms as one of the matches of the round. There are still some tickets available so please encourage friends and family who don’t normally come along to grab a ticket, or even a 3-game membership. It is an important day for our Club on the field but just as important is the opportunity to honour and show our respect to Indigenous culture and the many players who make such a positive contribution to our game and Club. We Fly As One!
Regards, Andrew
