ANNUAL REPORT 2011 Clockwise From Top: Lachie Sholl (St Bernards), Romain Grenville (Albion), Nathan Richardson (North Footscray), Danny Grantham (Albion) & Ray Jensen (Spotswood) Front Cover: Premiership playing-coaches Chris O’Keefe of Spotswood (Division One) & James Condos of Deer Park (Division Two) celebrate their respective Grand Final victories. Western Region Football League Annual Report prepared & edited by Cam Nation. Printed by Cyan Press. WRFL ANNUAL REPORT 2011 1 President Bill Baarini t the end of the 2011 season, I am The Executive Board and staff team have As part of our community engagement strategy, Wyndham City Council and local volunteer groups pleased to report that the Western Region addressed all of those six key issues, and many the WRFL established an ongoing partnership with to establish new junior clubs, perhaps as early AFootball League is in sound shape and well of the key deliverables of the Strategic Plan have the EJ Whitten Foundation early this year. $2,000 as next year. We are pleased to welcome PEGS placed to meet the challenges and opportunities already been met. was raised for the Foundation in association Juniors (Old Essendon Grammarians Football ahead. In just two short years, the League has with our senior Grand Final luncheon functions. Club) to our junior program from 2012. established a sound administrative and fi nancial The move to our new home at Whitten Oval has In future years, that League and its clubs will base; and has a clear vision for its future proven a resounding success. The new offi ce assist the Foundation in its important work of The success already recorded in meeting Strategic direction, as detailed in the Strategic Plan. arrangements provide attractive and effi cient raising funds for prostate cancer research and Plan objectives, particularly through increased working facilities for staff. The location in the awareness. sponsorship support, will fl ow through to lower Our 2010 Strategic Plan identifi ed six key issues “football hub” of the west identifi es the WRFL costs to all WRFL clubs from 2012 onwards. The agreed by member clubs as the most important and its clubs as important players in the rapidly After two highly successful years of umpire Board has adopted a balanced operating budget drivers of planning for the future, ie: growing football industry. Consistent with the recruitment, we are well on the way to meeting for the 2011-12 fi nancial year that includes the Strategic Plan target of 300 offi cial WRFL a 10% reduction in affi liation fees, as well as • Home of WRFL – accessibility, Strategic Plan, the previously unbudgeted rental storage, cost, exposure and degree of umpires by 2014. From a precarious position signifi cant reductions in insurance charges. Our costs incurred in the move to Whitten Oval have independence. at the start of the 2010 season when umpire aim will be to continue to pass on cost savings been covered by interest earned through careful numbers had declined to just 126, we fi nished to clubs as we broaden the base of revenue from • Reputation and image – how the WRFL management of cash fl ow, without any call on and its member clubs are perceived in the the 2011 season with 255 active umpires. This non-club sources. member clubs for additional fees. Community. is a great credit to the work of Terry O’Donnell and his recruiting committee; and to the many support The challenge of competition evenness at both • Umpire recruitment – retention, education The League’s reputation and image have taken a personnel who have worked so hard to establish senior and junior levels remains as the only key and support. major step forward with return of the weekly Footy and run the three umpiring academies. issue from the Strategic Plan that has not been • Retention and growth – junior and senior Record during the football season; and redesign substantially addressed. A working group of club/player numbers. of the website www.wrfl .org.au. These important Our single greatest challenge and opportunity is senior club Presidents will be formed shortly to • Club Development – a strong push for communication channels have supported more to manage the growth and development of the develop and recommend options for our senior WRFL to invest in club development than 50% increase in fi nancial return from game in the fastest-growing population base competitions. The Juniors Board will work with through the employment of a club corporate sponsorship over the past year, with of Australia. The appointment of Tim Shellcot club offi cials and League staff to identify the development offi cer and via the new CEO a further increase of similar magnitude forecast as Club Development Offi cer demonstrates the optimum structures and regulations for the 2012 role. in the coming year. They have also provided for Board’s commitment both to support of existing junior season. • Evenness of Competition – for both juniors enhanced communication both within the League clubs and to development of new clubs in the and seniors. and to the wider community. growth areas. Discussions are well advanced with Strategic planning is an ongoing process, requiring constant monitoring and review. Given the outstanding success already recorded through the 2010 Strategic Plan, it will be necessary to undertake a major review and planning exercise in consultation with member clubs during the 2012 season. I encourage all clubs to participate that review and to contribute to the future success of Bill Baarini (President) with Allan “Titch” Williams at Albion’s Premiership Flag Unfurling. the League. At the 2010 Annual General Meeting, I was I take this opportunity to extend sincere thanks an honour to serve as your President for the re-elected as President for a further 3-year term, and appreciation to all of the community-spirited past two years. I look forward with enthusiasm as were fellow directors Barry Lovell and Gina individuals and organisations who have supported and confi dence to the years ahead as we strive Smith. The only nominations for Board positions the important work of our League over the past to make the WRFL the best community football received this year were from the retiring members twelve months. league in Australia. John O’Callaghan (Vice President), Bruce Mildenhall and Janine Mizzi, all of whom will be The support of corporate sponsors is essential declared as elected unopposed at the Annual to our survival. I thank everyone of the growing General Meeting on 30th November. I extend band of sponsors who have partnered the Western Bill Baarini congratulations to the re-elected Board members Region Football League over the past twelve President and my personal thanks to all members of the months and look forward to long and mutually Board who have given so freely of their time and rewarding associations with you in future years. expertise to oversee the governance of the League during the past two years. Local government provides the playing facilities and support networks so vital to all of our clubs. Thank you to all of the members of the Juniors Thank you particularly to the Mayors, Councillors Board, Independent Tribunal, Independent Hearing and staff of our fi ve core municipalities Committee, Appeals Board and Rules Review (Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank, Wyndham Sub-Committee whose voluntary efforts have and Melton) for your respective contributions. been invaluable to the operation of the League We will continue to work closely with you to meet during the year under review. the challenges of a rapidly changing community profi le across the western region of Melbourne. Thanks also to CEO Bob Tregear and our dedicated staff team who have worked hard to Finally, thank you to all of the club offi cials, manage the day-to-day affairs of the League and supporters, volunteers and players who are the Western Bulldogs’ Chief Executive Offi cer Simon Garlick (CEO) with Bill Baarini (President) at the Season Launch Function (Photo By Cyan Sporting Images) to deliver the targets set out in the Strategic Plan. Western Region Football League. It has been 2 WRFL ANNUAL REPORT 2011 WRFL ANNUAL REPORT 2011 3 Chief Executive Offi cer Bob Tregear eason 2011 was a year of consolidation, sources. Consistent with the Strategic Plan, Cam Nation joined the staff team in a part- Since joining the staff team as Customer continued planning and achievement. major increases in net fi nals and sponsorship time role as Media & Communications Offi cer Service & Events Coordinator late in the 2010 SFoundations laid through the 2010 incomes have provided the means to secure an in February. A qualifi ed journalist and highly season, Lyn McLeod has quickly won the respect strategic planning process provided structure appropriate level of staffi ng, with the capacity successful swimming coach, Cam took on the and friendship of club offi cials, sponsors, Life and direction for completion of many of the to service existing and develop new revenue challenge of “changing the face” of the WRFL. Members, suppliers and everyone else who key deliverables of the League’s Strategic Plan. streams. In his fi rst few weeks on the job, he completely deals through our offi ce. As the fi rst point of Immediate benefi ts included increased coverage redesigned our website, creating an exciting and contact for visitors and callers, Lyn plays a vital Arguably the most important strategic initiative of both senior and junior matches with offi cial ever-changing on-line presence for our clubs and role in projecting the image of the League as a of recent years was initiated in July 2011 with umpires; a major improvement in the League’s players. In the six short months since launching friendly and professional organisation with a clear the support of member clubs to initiate a “top- public profi le through an exciting new website the new site, more than 70,000 absolute unique philosophy of service to its member clubs.