CEO UPDATE - 2021 IS HERE

To all our valued members, partners and stakeholders,

On behalf of the South Fremantle Football Club, I wish all within our large and growing “Family” a happy and successful New Year. 

Whilst we are desperately hoping and perhaps expecting some greater normality in our community and across our football this year, we have been quickly reminded over the holiday break that the spectre of COVID-19 continues to loom, and as such, we must be prepared for any eventuality. 

That said, we continue to plan and prepare for the year ahead in our Club’s customary professional and proactive manner and we hope to organise and deliver some great marquee events later in the year, once we are comfortable that it is appropriate to do so.  

There is so much happening at the Club right now, with plenty of positive and compelling news, this newsletter could have easily required chapters, but in summary form, I have selected some of the headline elements for member information –

Football Programs Flying

We have welcomed many new faces since last season and it really is pleasing to observe that we continue to be considered a ‘destination club’ for playing, coaching and support talent. There has been a big body of work completed to-date with our athletes and football staff diligently preparing for their respective seasons' ahead. 

New Male recruits Cam McCarthy, Matty Parker and Blake Schlensog have immediately demonstrated their value, and they shall considerably complement our core group of senior players as we mount our Premiership defence. 

Our Female program has added great depth, with new talent introduced from our stellar Rogers Cup squad, local amateur levels plus some VFLW experience. All new recruits will aid established top liners such as Lauren Vecchio, Tahlia Holtze and Mim Strom. 

2021 Fixtures Imminent

WAFL fixtures, inclusive of both our Men’s and Women’s teams, will be released late January, and we do appreciate the patience with this process as all football stakeholders work together to piece together the details of our respective competition/s for 2021. 

The WAFL Women’s season will commence on the weekend February 20/21, and the WAFL Men’s season will commence on Easter weekend, April 3/4.

Whilst nothing is yet confirmed, we are cautiously optimistic that we shall “unfurl” our WAFL Men’s 2020 Premiership Flag during a blockbuster home Round 1 match to start the 2021 season, whilst Round 3 should hopefully see us travel to a Souths country zone, playing a game for points at Pingelly in support of our deep and proud relationships across the Upper Great Southern.

Call to Arms – Targeting the WAFL’s Largest Membership

We have commenced our new membership year with significant momentum, and we are very grateful for this magnificent show of support from Souths fans. Our bullish member target this year is for x3000 financial members and this is tracking positively, and at time of writing we have x1165 financial members already signed on. This is great progress and league leading. 

I encourage current non-members to please “Join the Family” this year and get involved.
We have great member options available here - https://membership.sffc.com.au/ 

For our current members, I thank-you for your ongoing support and your trust in our capability. Please help us to further ‘bang the drum’ by raising the prospect of membership with all family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. We are an inclusive club, open to all, and we are in a strategic growth phase.

Now is the time for every Souths fan to join up and join us. 

Club Partnership Booming

We have been incredibly fortunate to experience an influx in enquiries for commercial business support (sponsorship) for the Club and from this, several outstanding arrangements have been agreed, both with incumbent and new partners. 

There will be plenty more information to come on this topic, but for now, may I personally thank and welcome either to, or back to the Kennel, the below 2021 partners:

• Fremantle Community Bank 
• MetWest
• John Hughes Group 
• Strzelecki Group 
• Sea Corporation Pty Ltd 
• Marley’s Transport 
• Nutrien Water 
• WA Hino

The above partners, and many more who shall be duly recognised, help to ensure that our Club continues to have bold ambitions with access to the resources that will allow us to achieve high performance outcomes both on-and-off the field of play. 

Talent Pathway Returns

I am pleased to confirm that in 2021 the Male Talent Program, that being, our Colts (U18s), our Futures (U16s) and our Development Squads (U14 & U15) will all be reassigned by the West Australian Football Commission directly back to the South Fremantle Football Club. 

This is a considerable outcome for football (and for each WAFL Club) and allows us to have a deeper, more engaged relationship and responsibility for the development of our best and brightest young talent.  

In 2021 we will continue to provide effective communication, enabling all Souths Fan Family to be engaged and informed of the direction the SFFC Board sets, and the strategies that staff shall deliver upon.

Following our remarkable 2020 journey, here’s hoping that 2021 proves a little less bumpy, but just as successful, and of course with plenty of Fun at the Footy!

Go Bulldogs

Cameron Britt
Chief Executive Officer
South Fremantle Football Club