We know that the 2022 AFL season was tough.

Just as tough on our members and fans as it was for us dealing with the issues internally as we strived for the desired outcome every week.

Clearly it frustrated everyone, but off the bat I’d like to thank the members, in particular, for sticking with us during a really difficult season.

To have more than 100,000 members for the third year in succession with the uncertainty around COVID and our poor season is nothing short of remarkable.

We are grateful for that support, do not take it for granted and it will be a key motivator in the pre-season and right through 2023.

We want to make you proud.

Some of the circumstances we were dealing with were beyond our control but other factors that contributed to a two-win season are within our capability to address.

And we’ll do that as we take on the mission of bouncing back as quickly as possible.

Historically our club has been able to address the tumble to the bottom quartile of the competition relatively quickly on the rare occasions it has happened.

We have avoided long stints in that section of the ladder where no club wants to be. The past won’t guarantee we navigate our way through the maze, but we can draw on some of those experiences to improve as fast as possible.

While the slide down the ladder was more rapid than we anticipated we did know that we would need to transition the list at some point.

We actually started that process 12 months ago with five selections in the National Draft. Greg Clark was a strong-bodied mature age player from Subiaco while Campbell Chesser, Rhett Bazzo, Brady Hough and Jack Williams are exciting youngsters we expect to have long-term roles to play at the club.

Then in the mid-season draft we added another midfield bull when we secured Jai Culley and like those listed previously, he has made an impressive start to his AFL career.

We added further high calibre talent through the recent National Draft, opting to split our No. 2 selection to get two rather than just one first round selection and having four selections in the top 30.

It is the first time since 2007 that we have had two first round selections and we’re highly optimistic that the players we have drafted will assist our ascension back into contention.

Add the likes of Oscar Allen, Tom Cole,Campbell Chesser, Dom Sheed, Elliot Yeo, Jeremy McGovern, Nic Naitanui and Luke Edwards to that mix – all of whom played little or no part in the 2022 campaign – and we are optimistic of being highly competitive next year.

We also are not oblivious to some of the tweaks we need to make to our fitness program and skill execution. While there were some mitigating circumstances that played a part in the 2022 season, we now move forward with a clear focus on getting healthy, fitter and stronger.

There is a commitment to getting better both individually and collectively and we will continue to invest in each other and demand more from each other. Some of it will come through a rigorous pre-season training schedule, but it is as much about the inner drive of individuals pushing to get the best out of themselves as it is the actual program.

While wins were scarce, there were some memorable moments during 2022 and one of the best performances actually came in a round two loss to North Melbourne. We made 14 changes from the opening game against Gold Coast to the clash with the Roos and among the inclusions were five COVID Contingency List (CCL) players.

The last of those changes was made when Jackson Nelson tweaked a knee in the warm-up which presented an opportunity for Claremont captain Declan Mountford who was called in to play against his former AFL club quite literally at the last minute.

We were right in that game until the end before going down by 15 points. In all we had 16 players represent the club for the first time, including three Supplementary Selection Period players Hugh Dixon, Patrick Naish and Luke Strnadica.

They came in to help alleviate the injury crisis – along with midfielder Tom Joyce – and with the exception of Joyce who became an injury casualty himself, all played. I would like to thank all of the players who committed to be a part of the CCL, especially those who pulled on the blue and gold.

It’s doubtful any of them anticipated an AFL opportunity but we were most appreciative of their commitment to be a part of an extraordinary season.

After the mid-season bye we hit the reset button with the immediate target of being more competitive, to improve our consistency and to win more games.

The winning didn’t happen, but we did improve and we were right in the mix for most games. From a coaching/management perspective perhaps the biggest positive to come out of the season was that our playing group and staff remained united.

Unity and belonging are important pillars to a strong culture so the foundations are clearly there.

Another of the high points of the season was undoubtedly the round 21 match against Adelaide; the last of 271 games with the West Coast Eagles for Josh Kennedy. Again we didn’t get the four points, but the exit for one of the club’s champions was quite remarkable.

That he kicked eight goals in another stellar display added to the legend of a man who has kicked more goals (712) than any player in club history and is a dual Coleman medallist.

There have been many other accolades, including his role in the 2018 premiership, earning all-Australian selection on three occasions and leading the club goal-kicking award eight times. He retired on a high and not many players get that opportunity.

During the pre-season leading into the2022 campaign we lost another great soldier when Brad Sheppard announced his retirement.

Shep was a true warrior in defence who could play on a variety of opposition forwards. Another player to have earned all-Australian selection he was sorely missed, almost as much for what he contributed around the locker room as for his on-field achievements.

Shortly after the season another stalwart, premiership midfielder Jack Redden called time on his career after 263 games with West Coast (134) and Brisbane (129). He was player of the finals in 2018 and that honour says as much about him as anything else.

The end of the season is always marked with a tinge of sadness because some players do not continue for one reason or another and Jackson Nelson was not offered an AFL contract for next season.

In his 102 games he played a largely selfless role for the team and he will forever have a presence in the locker room as he has name printed on locker #30 having brought up his century late in the season.

We also bade Junior Rioli farewell when he opted to move to Port Adelaide after 51 games with the club, one of those being the 2018 Grand Final when he kicked our first goal to get things rolling.

It was disappointing to lose him, but we wish him well for the future. The depth of our team was certainly tested in 2022 with so many so-called ‘first choice’ players unavailable for long periods, but a number of players showed remarkable resilience which was borne out in the Club Champion Award.

The ball spent more time in our back half than we would have liked but Tom Barrass was outstanding on the last line and was thoroughly deserving of joining the exclusive list of players to win the John Worsfold Medal.

Alongside him was veteran Shannon Hurn who again stood tall deep in defence and despite being well into the back nine of his career produced an outstanding season.

In finishing in the top five, Tim Kelly, Jack Darling and Liam Duggan again showed their qualities in difficult circumstances and did all they could to achieve the wins we so desperately chased.

For Brady Hough to win the Emerging Player Award and for Oscar Allen to win the Chris Mainwaring Medal as the best clubman was also satisfying as we expect both to be prominent for many years to come.

During the season there were some important milestones, most particularly Jack Darling and Andrew Gaff reaching the 250-game marks of their careers.

Very few players get there and we know they have more ahead of them.Jamie Cripps played his 200th game for the club in the last match of the season which is another significant achievement and places him 28th on the all-time games played list at the club.

Tom Barrass played his 100th game in the opening round of the season and as mentioned previously Jacko Nelson brought up triple figures later in the year which was testimony to their capabilities.

Tim Kelly played his 50th game for the club and 100 career games, while Jack Petruccelle and Junior Rioli also hit that milestone. Congratulations to them all.

There are many people I need to thank, but I will start with the coaching staff, match committee and the whole football department for staying solid during a tough campaign.

The support of Gavin Bell and Ben Sharman was especially important and I thank you. Special mention to Rob Wiley, Neil Ross and the WAFL support staff for their unwavering commitment in challenging circumstances and to Michael Prior and Michelle Cowan who had the task of completing two AFLW seasons in one calendar year.

To key staff members Laura Page and Jordan Stares thank you for your contributions to our club and I wish you well with the next chapter.

Finally, I would like to thank outgoing Chair Russell Gibbs, his wife Tam and daughters Amy and Emily for all of you support. I also look forward to working with new Chair Paul Fitzpatrick, Deputy Chair Elizabeth Gaines and the rest of the Board.

I would like to acknowledge Chief Executive Trevor Nisbett and the Executive team for their strength and support during a testing season while at home my wife Nicky and the kids were also so important.

We are determined to learn from the ardours of the 2022 season and are absolutely committed to getting our club back to where we belong.

Once again thank you for sticking with us on this journey and we look forward to the ascent up ladder.

Adam Simpson

Senior Coach