What an incredible couple of weeks!
I’m going to send you an update of the drugs issue early next week, but I don’t want to talk about that right now. The footy is about to start!
On the eve of our 2013 campaign, we couldn’t be feeling more confident and buoyant about our preparation.
Show Your True Passion and join Port Adelaide as a Member in 2013. Sign up before February 28 to guarantee your seat at Adelaide Oval for 2014. Visit www.weareportadelaide.com.au to join.
I know it’s a familiar theme, and the proof is always in the pudding, but there are some very tangible indicators telling us that we are continuing to move in the right direction on this journey to rebuild our Club.
• Changes to the Board, coaching, playing list and leadership group has energised the Club
• The team is demonstrably fitter. The pre-season program has been successful in putting more work into the guys, with less casualties.
• The coaching group has been strengthened with the addition of Alan Richardson and Ken Hinkley. Alan’s new coaching director role has added much needed depth to our program.
• The players’ attitude has been exemplary. They are feeding off a positive, new energy.
• Kochie has been a tower of strength both internally and externally.
• The strategy to broaden our commercial appeal in the eastern states is working. We are in serious discussion with three new major national brands.
• Our annual Family Night last Friday was a resounding success with 5000 Port Adelaide supporters having a ball watching our two great sides slug it out. It doesn’t get better than that!
• Membership is up 12 per cent year on year. Thank you and let’s keep it going! Remember you only have until THE END OF THIS MONTH to secure an Adelaide Oval seat hold GUARANTEE or PRIORITY for 2013 by signing up for 2013.
So that’s all good, but we are a long way from feeling comfortable.
Port Adelaide is coming from a long way back financially, and it’s going to take a while for corporate confidence to return to the Club.
And just being fit, doesn’t mean we’re going to win every game we play! Our squad is young, the third youngest in the league. History tells us there will be ups and downs. But the attitude around the Club is simply “let’s have a red hot go! No limits, no excuses … just your best effort every single time.”
Whether it’s our sales team chasing down a sponsor or Jakey Neade chasing down a defender, the mindset is the same…give it everything!
Confidence is also a major factor. Port Adelaide needs wins ... and not just wins on the field.
• We need to land another big major sponsor.
• We need to crack 40,000 members this year.
• We need to start the season well.
We are rebuilding our Club, and the fuel comes from the little wins we have along the way.
That’s why last Friday’s Family Night was so important. It showed the football world that there is something going on at Port Adelaide … the sleeping giant is stirring again!
That’s why getting on line and renewing your membership or recommitting as a Power Broker is so critical right now. It’s fuelling our momentum. The team is feeding off it.
I can tell you our mantra is simple … we just want to make you feel proud of us again. It’s a journey, but we are well and truly on our way.
From everyone associated with the Club, thank you for your encouragement and support.
Let’s have some fun this year!
Cheers,
KT
