I hope you and your loved ones are doing well, as we all negotiate the 'new normal' in relation to COVID-19 and its impacts across Australia and the rest of the world.

Already, 2022 has thrown up enormous challenges for the NAB AFLW competition and our team, with the playing squad, coaches and support staff relocating to Melbourne on January 15. Since then, many of our fixtures have had to be rescheduled as a result of players and staff isolating due to AFL Health and Safety protocols. Changes to the original border opening dates for Western Australia have also meant trying to play some of our fixtures on an accelerated basis, while we're already in Melbourne.

As it stands, we're planning that the AFLW group will be back in Western Australia on February 8, to complete their 14-day quarantine period.

All in all, our AFLW team has yet to have an uninterrupted season in the competition, which is really disappointing for our club and our members, but we will continue to work as hard as ever to keep improving our on-field performance.

You will have also seen a couple of other issues hit the headlines, of late.

Earlier this month, it was widely reported that we were the only club not to wear a dedicated guernsey for AFLW Pride Round.

In short, we got it wrong by not having a Pride Round guernsey ready for 2022. We have always acknowledged the role of the AFLW Pride Round in promoting recognition and inclusion for LGBQTIA+ people and the challenges faced by the community.

We have long championed diversity and inclusion as a club, and have a strong history in Indigenous, multicultural and female football programs and activities, amongst others.

We have also found ourselves in the unfortunate position where Jack Darling is unable to attend the club's facility at Mineral Resources Park under the AFL's COVID-19 playing and training mandates. While we respect anyone's personal choice, we are obligated to abide by mandates laid down by the AFL and government.

You may also be aware that, as of January 31, the WA State Government's mandatory proof of vaccination requirements came into effect for some venues. With Aquila Café on site, and as a licensed premise, proof of vaccination (or medical exemption) will be required to enter Mineral Resources Park.

If you need to attend Mineral Resources Park and do not have the required vaccination status, or if you simply aren't comfortable being out and about at the moment in Perth, please contact our Membership Services Team on (08) 9388 4566 or the SuperStore on (08) 9388 4555 to discuss ways in which we can assist.

As we approach the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, our players are training strongly and preparing for another challenging season – although, aren't they all challenging?

Sadly, we had to farewell Brad Sheppard in December, as he made the decision to retire based on medical advice. Life member, All-Australian, and all-round star defender, Brad will be sorely missed by everyone at the club. We wish him well for the next stage of his life, outside of football.

Our new recruits are working hard and showing great promise, and we look forward to seeing what they can do as the season progresses, whether it be at AFL or WAFL level. An interesting statistic from Ian Miller (our long-time player wellbeing coordinator) – over the past 20 years, we have had 66 players join the club from outside of Western Australia or from the country, who have stayed with one of 30 different host families in their early years with the club. Five of those families have hosted five players each, across the years. That's amazing support for the club, for which we – and the players involved – are extremely grateful.

As much as we hope it won't, no doubt the fixture released late last year (including the AAMI Community Series match scheduled for March) is subject to change, especially given Western Australia's current border arrangements.

We will continue to work with the State Government on how to best navigate requirements to keep the AFL fixture on track and will keep you informed as soon as we receive any relevant information, including requirements to attend Optus Stadium, which are likely to be more stringent than at other venues around the country.

In the meantime, and as COVID-19 continues to impact our health and wellbeing around Australia and the world, please take every precaution to keep yourself and those around you safe.

Thank you for your outstanding support of the West Coast Eagles, especially in times of such uncertainty – we truly appreciate you being part of our Eagles family.
 
Kind regards,
 
Trevor Nisbett
Chief Executive