When we get through this AFL season – however that may look, however that may play out – we will never forget the year of 2020.

Playing the opening round of the season against Melbourne, then going into a three-month hiatus before playing the second game seems unfathomable. Throw in the fact that our club will play a month of football on the Gold Coast, with no fans at the stadium, and it just gets curiouser and curiouser. It actually sounds absurd.

Historians will have a ball with this in generations to come, but this has been anything other than fun. Unprecedented has been the oft-used description and that is exactly the case.

As we are all so acutely aware, this COVID-19 pandemic has not only disrupted the AFL season, it has had a devastating effect on people, their health, their livelihoods.

While the club has been in regular contact with our members throughout this stressful ordeal, this is the first time I have communicated during this period – largely because I have been waiting on some clarity around how this year will take shape.

We now know that the competition will resume on June 11 – in about three weeks from now – and we are all looking forward to that.

Our club is presented with the challenge of relocating to the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast for a month, because of the tough stance Premier Mark McGowan and his Government have taken around our border controls.

While it is disappointing that we cannot play games in WA for the moment and must relocate our playing group, because of the need to quarantine for two weeks upon crossing the WA border when returning home, we do understand the reasons.

When football does resume, it will be surreal with no fans at the games. We had a taste of that in round one against Melbourne at Optus Stadium and it’s now a situation that will become the new normal, at least in the short term.

That doesn’t mean we’ll become accustomed to it, but we must adjust as best we can. There is still a premiership on the line and we intend to give that our best shot.

Our season will kick back into gear on the Gold Coast, starting with a match against the Suns on June 13, and matches against Brisbane, Port Adelaide and Richmond will follow in the month we will spend in the hub.

Our players, coaches and staff are all looking forward to playing again, albeit in these unusual circumstances. We know it will be a challenge, but as always we’ll confront it head-on.

We remain hopeful that because of the stringent controls our State Government has implemented, there will be an easing of restrictions in coming months, to the point when you – our faithful members who are so invested in our club – can see your team play.

And that is at the core of why I am writing today.

As a club we understand the personal toll that COVID-19 has taken on all of our 90,000-plus members. It is doubtful anyone has been left untouched by this horrible disease. And we know full well the financial pressure it has imposed on families and businesses.

I would like to thank those members who have continued to support the club financially – either donating this year’s membership, opting to take a credit for their 2021 renewal or pausing their membership for the time being.

We also appreciate that those members who have opted to cancel their membership have done so with a heavy heart.

We have been privileged to have such a loyal and committed member and supporter base and because of that we have been able to build a strong financial base.

We are in a better position than most of our competitors, but our club will still suffer an extraordinary hit, in the tens of millions of dollars.

It would have been worse if not for your continued commitment to the club and for that, we are truly grateful.

Kind regards,

Russell Gibbs
Chairman