Dear Members and Supporters,
This really is the weirdest ride!
Sparkling, clear, sunny days…doing their best to lull us all into the premature belief that all is well outside.
And a beautiful set of Easter Eggs, with only a Tom and Jack Rockliff video piece to share them with!
It was either that or watch a torturous 4 hour tennis court marathon by Kane Cornes!
Crazy days indeed.
This past week has seen the club settle into a rhythm.
With a skeleton staff all working from home, connection has been the key focus.
To our members, who simply will not let their club fall.
To our Corporate and Community partners, who remain unflinching in their support, despite invariably dealing with their own coronavirus inspired challenges.
And to our players, coaches and staff, who are ready, willing and able to throw themselves into the season…but aren’t allowed to!
Despite the hardship, I have no doubt that the bonds being forged through this adversity will see us emerge stronger.
But I won’t attempt to sugar coat our reality.
The events of 2020 are damaging our club.
We will be feeling the impact of this for years to come.
With every revenue line diminished, we have joined the majority of the competition seeking financial support from the AFL.
This support will be in the form of a loan which will be paid back as the club recovers.
Our relationship with the AFL remains excellent, a by-product of years of working together in the lead up to our arrival at Adelaide Oval.
Their support, far from being an impediment, is welcome.
But carrying excessive debt for too long can be limiting.
It is with this in mind, that we have begun the process of re-shaping our club for the future.
And whilst we see a future that will require us to be agile and think differently, there are some things that must never change.
We are a footy club after all. A very special one.
We will continue to invest, to resource our teams to win.
We will embrace our members and partners, and plan for the day that we can repay their loyalty.
And perhaps most importantly, we will protect the essence of the Port Adelaide Football Club, so magically captured at each of our recently held 150 year celebrations.
There is an iron will shared by all in the AFL industry to play again in 2020.
When we do, our responsibility is to be ready.
And we will be.
2020 has already been inked into the history books for all the wrong reasons.
Prevailing against such odds, may just be one of our club’s finest achievements.
I will keep you posted as we work our way towards that goal.
Take care,
KT
