This year continues to throw up challenges and I think we are all slowly getting used to expecting the unexpected. I hope you, as well as your family and friends, are safe and well as we embark upon what will hopefully only be six days of lockdown throughout South Australia. Like many organisations and businesses, we have had a hectic 24-hours and I thought best to provide an update on how we are approaching the latest COVID-19 developments.
As always, the priority has been on making sure our people are okay and in particular the players have the necessary support and resources to maintain their training programs. Fortunately quite a few of our men’s team are interstate visiting family and will avoid the restrictions, and instead enjoy the benefits of training outdoors as per normal. We have also organised equipment and carefully adjusted training schedules for those who are staying local. Unfortunately we have had to cancel our AFLW team’s structured sessions in line with the advice of health authorities.
The administration building, including the Member Services Call Centre, will remain closed in the short-term. However, our hard-working off-field team is working remotely and available to answer any questions you might have. Through this shutdown period we ask that you submit an online enquiry or request a call back at crowsmembership.com.au or email membership@afc.com.au and we will assist you as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and apologise for any inconvenience.
In other news, our push to establish a new headquarters and training facility continues to gather momentum and we have established a working party, led by our new Chairman John Olsen, to focus on identifying an appropriate site. Thebarton Oval has regularly been talked about as a prime spot in recent weeks and it is among several locations in and around Adelaide that we are assessing. There is much to consider with a development of this size. At the forefront of our thinking is the need to create a place where the Crows family can come together in an environment which reflects the past and present achievements of the Club and its people.
With the trade period now complete, our list management team’s attention has fallen squarely on the upcoming national draft. The coming weeks are critical to our rebuild strategy and we have some crucial decisions to make. Rest assured our recruiting staff have spent countless hours analysing talent across the country and come draft night will be well prepared to maximise our strong draft hand.
The AFLW season is also fast approaching and it won’t be long before our men’s team returns to training too. Our new football department staff, such as assistant coaches Scott Burns, Nathan van Berlo and James Rahilly, are only days away from officially starting, ahead of the younger players returning on December 7 and the full squad back early in the New Year.
In the meantime, take care and look after each other. We Fly As One!
Regards,
Fages
