Dear Members, 

After 12 very long weeks, we are excited to see our team back in action this Friday against Hawthorn. We also welcome our return to GMHBA Stadium – it is a great way to get back into action. But it goes without saying that we wish you could all be there cheering the boys on.

The support of our members over the past three difficult months has helped sustain our club. The support has been so overwhelmingly positive that our projected cash shortfall has dropped from $10 million to around $5 million. This is still a very big number, but we are much better placed than we originally forecast and feared.

On the good news front, we have almost a full squad to select from. The players returned from the break in excellent condition, and we are determined to contend for the 2020 Flag.

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The club is continuing to assess what the future looks like. The AFL rules will require a substantial reduction in club expenditures and a number of big issues – such as player list sizes and what happens with the VFL and VFLW Competitions – are yet to be decided. With such an uncertain backdrop, we must be flexible in our planning.  And we are determined to make decisions that are in the best long-term interests of the club.

There has been significant public discussion around the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement and this is resonating across Australia, particularly in relation to challenges faced by our Indigenous community. Our playing group feels strongly about this issue and, along with players from all clubs, will be expressing solidarity in the fight for equality and an end to racism. Our club is very supportive of our players in this . We feel very strongly about being inclusive and in working to improve community wellbeing.

In the past we have come out strongly on some major social issues. But we do understand, and accept, that not all of our members will agree with us on some of them. But where the issues so greatly affect our own people – our players and staff - we believe it is appropriate for us to express our view.

Again, on behalf of everyone at the club, we thank you for your loyalty and support. Everyone associated with the club is in awe of the way our members have stuck with us in these most unusual times.

Like you, we cannot wait for the first bounce on Friday night.

Go Cats.

Colin Carter – President
Brian Cook - CEO