March 27, 2020
I truly hope that you and your loved ones have remained safe and healthy since my last note.
It has been a horrific week for a large number of Australians, as we entered the next phase of actions taken by government to minimise the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and many people lost their livelihoods – some temporarily, others permanently. The impacts have been enormous.
Our club has not gone unscathed either.
This week, we undertook actions we hoped we would never have to, and substantially reduced our staffing levels. There have been some redundancies, many stand downs and the remaining, small number of staff are working reduced hours, including only five in the football department.
Players, as you know, are also on an enforced period of leave.
We had no choice but to take these difficult actions, to assist the club in absorbing the financial repercussions of the suspension of AFL matches, and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure the survival of not only our club, but the league as well.
Despite this difficult time, our club will survive and we will fire up again once we have the all clear from those who know best; right now, we are focussed on keeping people safe and healthy, and trying to preserve as many jobs as possible until the season is underway once more.
Our amazing team of staff, coaches and players have been incredible in the face of their own personal challenges throughout this period and have done everything they can to sacrifice and ensure we find a way to return strongly when the time comes.
As soon as we have any information about the resumption of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership season, we will let you know. At the moment, the AFL has advised that they will make a statement in early May about the completion of the remaining 16 rounds of the adjusted 17-match season.
We will continue to work through options in relation to membership arrangements for 2020, and will advise as soon as there is greater clarity on the future of the 2020 season. We just can’t provide specifics about this right now, and we appreciate your patience, as well as the many messages of support that we are receiving from members; they have helped and inspired the team through this difficult time more than you know.
Our online SuperStore remains open for orders, which we will continue to fulfil from within our skeleton staff for as long as we are able. Our Membership Services Team also continues to operate, albeit at a reduced capacity, and our social channels remain active with as much content as we can muster.
In the meantime, I encourage you all to observe the guidance and instructions that have been issued by the relevant authorities in relation to isolation and social distancing.
Football is all about teamwork, and we often talk about unity and players playing their roles. If we all play our part and cooperate in the interests of the broader community, the current crisis will be more manageable and, with any luck, end sooner rather than later.
Take care of yourself, your family and your loved ones.
Kind regards,
Trevor Nisbett
Chief Executive
