A Message from the President

Dear Members,

Welcome to our first update for season 2019! Each month you’ll hear from either the President, CEO, Senior Coach or Senior Captain and we hope it provides you with a great insight into what’s happening on and off field.

The most pressing issue for your Board currently is bedding down our security of tenure at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.
We still have 36 years to run on our sub-lease, so our tenure is secure but the financial obligations due to us in this agreement seem to have been overlooked in negotiations regarding the departure of the Fremantle Dockers to Cockburn.
We have been strident in reminding all parties of their obligations to SFFC and rest assured the matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness by your Board.
We remain confident we will get the result we want which will then allow us to push on with the redevelopment of Fremantle Community Bank Oval in the coming years.

I have long been on the lookout for Senior Marketing Executive to assist with our Sponsorship/Marketing efforts and are delighted to announce former player, Allen Burtenshaw, has agreed assist us in this regard.
Allen was a partner in a major Perth marketing company and his experience & knowledge of WAFL footy combined with his marketing experience and business contacts, is a massive coup for the Bulldogs and thanks to Director Anthony Van Der Wielen for his assistance in getting Allen over the line.

We recently met with CUB and it is exciting to advise that we are the best performing WAFL club with all other clubs - at best - just “keeping their head above water” in terms of functions and CUB product sales.
Our draught beer sales are up 38.1% and packaged beer 11% and this strong result is a credit to both our Food & Beverage partners Ivan and Nelson from Benny’s Bar & Café, as well Tom’s excellent work with “Rock Rover” which is generating significant new revenue for the club.

While on the subject Benny’s, I encourage all Members and supporters to take advantage of the quality food offering both during and after our games, as well as the $15 smorgasbord on offer one Friday of every month. This is an area of our business the Board is very keen to grow. It is excellent value and combined with a cold beer and new wine offering, makes it very easy to bring family and friends confidently, to enjoy a day out at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. Please remember, our club shares in the profits of all our Food and Beverage sales.

The Stephen Michael Foundation has received further grant income and continues to go from strength-to-strength with their work in our community. A Memorandum of Understanding has been reached to keep the Foundation located at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, which is great news for the SFFC family.

Our young team has had an excellent start to the year going into the bye 4-1 and given our reigning Best & Fairest Marlion Pickett is yet to play a game, it is really encouraging!! It is fantastic to see young players like Pearson, Donaldson, Stewart & Florenca taking up the cudgels following the retirement of a significant senior group, we understand young players will have some ups and downs but the Board is delighted with our teams progress to this point. Special mention Dion Munkara from the NT, a couple of goals he has kicked already have been simply exhilarating and a fantastic reminder of our long link with Tiwi Islands players, you are seriously missing out if you aren’t watching Dion live at the game!

Membership renewals have been strong but we are always on the lookout for new Members and/or Sponsors, please call Tom at the club with any new contacts you may have?

Our own John Worsfold, the ultimate leader, returns to South Fremantle as guest speaker at lunch on Friday 21st June with tickets $120 per person ($1100 table of 10) covering a 3-course meal, all your drinks and hear from ‘Woosha’ on his time at the Bulldogs, as a 2-time Premiership Captain and a Premiership coach. Question time will follow so have some ready to ask the Bulldogs’ and Eagles’ Legend.

Lastly, we have a major fundraiser on 29 June being our Gala Event for 2019. This will be a great night at $120 per person ($1100 table of 10) covering a 3-course meal, all your drinks and a high-quality 7-piece Neil Diamond tribute band entertaining us. There will also be a silent auction and the draw of the Harley-Davidson Fatboy motorcycle raffle, so please support the night and book your table now. Our male and female players will be in attendance so it’s a great opportunity to mingle with our players and fill our function centre for the night!

Thanks to you all for your support to-date of our great club, see you at the footy and go Bulldogs!!

Peter Christie

NOTE: As it is our intention for correspondence to increasingly be sent electronically, please phone the club on 9335 1555 if you require correspondence by some other means