The message from the AFL at the start of the year, when the real impact of COVID-19 began to materialise, was that we all needed to be agile and flexible.

We were. And despite all of the obstacles placed in our path we managed to get a season completed.

While it was not an ideal result for our club, finishing fifth after the qualifying rounds and then being beaten in the first elimination final by Collingwood, I remain immensely proud of everyone involved in the organisation.

From the players and coaches, to the staff and families and, of course, our 101,275 members, the commitment, resilience and resolve in the toughest year in the history of the game was exceptional. It was humbling to think that so many members committed in the knowledge they would have limited or no access to games.

But it took a toll. No club emerged unscathed and it was difficult to see the impact on so many good people at the West Coast Eagles. A number of valued, long-serving stalwarts of our club have been lost to the organisation as a result.

It was unavoidable, but nonetheless disappointing as the competition experienced a 10-week hiatus and then was reduced to a truncated season with limited crowds at a handful of home games.

In that prevailing climate, almost all of the staff were on reduced hours and salary.

We have always invested heavily in our greatest asset, our people, and it hurt to see some highly-valued contributors transition into  another  phase  of  life.  They  needed  to make those decisions as they sought greater stability and tenure, when we could offer few guarantees in such an uncertain environment.

There was a number of unknowns when our players, coaches and a skeleton football staff departed Perth bound for a hub in Queensland to reboot the season in mid- June. We didn’t know what to expect, but committed to relocate 4000km away to the Royal Pines Resort in an effort to get the season under way.

Initially, upon resumption, there was limited movement across the borders on the east coast while our club ventured to the Gold Coast with no definitive plan to return. So much depended on governments and health authorities, as well as the AFL.

It took a while to settle in and we did not play our best football in the first  few  matches on the road, but eventually we got things roiling before returning to Perth to play six consecutive games at Optus Stadium.

We were back in the air and returning to Queensland for a compressed series of matches, playing five games in 19 days. It was the toughest assignment of any club and not surprisingly it resulted in an alarming number of soft tissue injuries.

In the midst of that demanding run of matches, the club announced it had surpassed 100,000 members for the first time and in doing so surpassed Richmond as the club with the highest membership base of any sporting club in the southern hemisphere.

That is an extraordinary achievement, particularly when everyone was confronting such unprecedented turmoil in their own lives.

I know our players and coaches were acutely aware of the privilege they were afforded by playing the game – albeit under the conditions of two COVID tests every week and strict day-to-day protocols – but they also knew they had the opportunity, for a couple of hours every week, to distract Eagles fans from their own hardships.

While we wanted more out of the year, we couldn’t quite get the job done, losing in the first week of finals to Collingwood.

We were all desperately disappointed with that sudden exit, but it’s the situation that confronts you when you miss the top four, missing the double chance presented by finishing in the top half of the eight by percentage for the second year in succession.

It left us vulnerable and, unfortunately, out of premiership running. Ultimately the flag was won by Richmond and I take this opportunity to congratulate them on a wonderful season.

They are clearly the benchmark of the competition and like every other club in the league we have begun the chase.

Despite the empty feeling of finishing seventh, there were some outstanding achievements that must be acknowledged.

At the top of the list was the effort of Nic Naitanui in winning his first John Worsfold Medal as Club Champion. Nic had a remarkable season and stamped himself as the most influential ruckman in the game,  so often imposing himself at the pivotal moments to get his team over the line.

His best-on-ground performance against Collingwood in the final was typical of his season. His effort saw him edge out Andrew Gaff, who was runner-up, but also secured for him the Player of the Finals award.

By finishing second, Andrew continued to build on  an  amazing  record  that  means  he has finished in the top five in the award seven times in the last nine years and nine times in succession he has placed in the top 10 – his lowest finish in that period being eighth in 2013.

It was also pleasing to see Brad Sheppard, another remarkably consistent  player  who is rarely beaten, place in the top three for the second year in succession. He generally takes on the opposition’s most dangerous small or medium sized forward and gets the job done. Brad also won the Chris Mainwaring Medal as best clubman, one of the major awards available at our club.

In fourth position was Tom Barrass, who has been around a little while now, but had a terrific season in defence and was a strong and consistent leader. Testimony to the importance of his contribution was that he won the player trademark award, as voted by his peers.

Entering the top five for the first time was another quality young(ish) defender in Liam Duggan. He was outstanding throughout and when the injuries to our midfield were at their worst he turned the clock back to fill the void.

Champion forward Josh Kennedy was the club’s leading goal-kicker for the seventh time, while Josh Rotham was voted as the club’s best emerging player. Clearly both men played important roles during the year.

The all-Australian selectors recognised the outstanding contributions of several of our players with Nic Naitanui, Brad Sheppard and Liam Ryan named in the team of the year.

Andrew Gaff was nominated in the original 40-man squad and was desperately unlucky to miss selection in the final 22.

In the round three game against Brisbane forward Jamie Cripps  played  his  150th  game for the club,  becoming  eligible  for life membership. That honour  was  ratified by the Board and he was presented with his achievement at the Club Champion Awards.

Other significant milestones were achieved by Andrew Gaff and Jack Darling, who played their 200th matches for the club in rounds three and four respectively.

I would also like to acknowledge both Will Schofield and Lewis Jetta whose careers at AFL level came to their conclusion at season’s end.

Both are highly respected individuals who have left an indelible impression on our club and will always be revered for their contributions, accentuated by their efforts in the successful 2018 premiership campaign.

While Jamie Cripps qualified for life membership through reaching the 150-  game mark – there were three other fine contributors to our club who were afforded the highest honour available at the West Coast Eagles.

Beau Waters finished his journey on 120 games, a career largely cut  short  because of injury, but he was an integral part of the 2006 premiership team. Another player cut down by injury was Eric Mackenzie and sadly he was one of the players who could not be considered in 2018 because of a foot injury. He played 147 games, was the 2014 John Worsfold medallist and like Beau is a former vice-captain.

Alan Cransberg, the longest serving Chairman (2011-16) in the history of the club, played    a leading hand in our regeneration after finishing at the foot of the premiership table in 2010. He has also served with distinction as chairman of the Wirrpanda Foundation.

While there were many challenges confronted in our world, the impact on businesses - local, national and global – was also profound and we are so grateful to the many sponsors and corporate partners who committed their support to our club despite the situation.

We are thankful to those individuals and businesses that were so supportive in the most difficult of times. We always appreciate your support, but even more so this year.

Heading the list are our long-time co- major sponsors – Hungry Jack’s – a brand synonymous with the West Coast Eagles.

Lendi is another brand that is growing its identity with the club as co-major for the last two seasons. It has been very rewarding to partner a young company with its roots in Western Australia.

To other key partners, including our inclusion and diversity partner, BHP, who allow us to have the reach and impact that we are so proud of, many thanks for your continued support. That was difficult in 2020, but we were innovative in the way we were able to maintain our connection and we greatly appreciate the opportunities created by BHP’s involvement.

It went even deeper this year with club personnel deployed by BHP in the north- west with our home ground naming rights partner Mineral Resources also working collaboratively to provide opportunities for West Coast staff, but also using the skills of those people to assist their own existing work force.

All of this transpired after the year began poorly, our inaugural season in the AFLW competition was curtailed with two rounds remaining. I would like to congratulate head of female football Adam Selwood and his staff, senior coach Luke Dwyer and all of the players involved in our historic first season.

I would particularly like to congratulate our inaugural captain Emma Swanson and vice- captain Dana Hooker on their leadership throughout the year. Both set an outstanding on-field example as well, with Dana being recognised as Club Champion and Emma runner-up.

The relationship between the executive and the board is critical to the club’s operations and I would like to thank chairman Russell Gibbs, who was both supportive and challenging as we pushed hard to be the best we could.

Together with deputy chairman Paul Fitzpatrick, Chris Wharton, Terry Bowen, Justin Langer and Zoe Yujnovich, along with their respective spouses, I’d like to thank them for their on-going support.

There is always a lot happening in and around the club and I would like to thank my executive assistant Anna Durante for her tireless efforts throughout the year, as well as the executive team led by Richard Godfrey (Chief Operating Officer), Gary Stocks (GM – Communications), Deane Pieters (GM – Business Strategy and Growth), Digby Moullin (GM – Infrastructure Projects and Technology), Craig Vozzo (GM – Football), Tony Haselhurst (GM – Marketing), Lisa Bradock (GM – Supporter Operations), Richard O’Connell (GM – Community and Game Development) and our Integrity Services Manager, Peter Staples.

I would also like to thank my wife Pam and my family for the tolerance and support  they have shown throughout the year. Like everyone, that support was even more critical in 2020.

I wish to thank all of our staff in what was obviously a tumultuous and exhausting year of so much uncertainty. People were stood down for long periods, on reduced hours and salaries and they helped the club navigate through such a challenging year.

Finally, I would like to wish all members and supporters a happy and joyous Christmas and New Year. It will probably mean more to all of us this year, in so many cases re-connecting with family and friends.

We are unsure of exactly what 2021 will look like, but together we will work towards returning to the pinnacle of the AFL. We look forward to you joining us on that journey.