A message from the WA Football CommissionSaturday, March 21, 2020 - 12:09 PM

Dear WA Football community,
 
On behalf of the West Australian Football Commission, we thank you for the solidarity, support and understanding you have displayed as we tackle one of the greatest challenges our game has ever faced.

The thousands of volunteers, players, coaches, umpires, staff, officials and key leaders who make our great game possible are at the forefront of every decision we make during this difficult time. Without you, the game we all love simply wouldn’t exist.

The WAFC is responsible for all levels of football across Western Australia. From Auskick to WAFL there are more than 67,000 players at 463 clubs in 55 community Leagues and competitions.

Each and every one of these participants, Leagues and Clubs is important to the future success of our game in this State. The WAFC is doing everything possible to support all levels of the game during this unprecedented challenge, so they can quickly rebound and play an important role in reconnecting communities.

For our WAFL Clubs and our Affiliate Leagues who play an important part across our pathways and community football, we will work in partnership to find our way through these difficult times so we can recover and prosper on the other side.

The West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Football Club, who each make a significant contribution to WA’s football economy and support the growth of our game, are also facing uncertain times, so it is important we offer them our support and make sure we tune into every game this season.

In this period, it is vital that we are part of the whole of community response to slow down the spread of Coronavirus, to help the broader community and our health systems to cope.

As advised earlier this week competitions have been postponed until Sunday, 31st May, 2020 in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 throughout our community. The decision has been made together with the AFL and State football bodies around Australia as part of a national approach to protect the well-being of all players, coaches, umpires, officials, staff and volunteers across all levels of our game.

We are determined to be part of the whole of community response to slow this virus down – and in doing so, help the broader community and our health systems to cope. As such we will take advice from the necessary medical and health experts on a decision to when we resume the 2020 season.

We are united across our industry in making hard decisions necessary to protect the health and livelihoods of our football community.

We understand how disappointing it is that local footy has been postponed and the struggle that many clubs will be facing to survive. Make sure you stay in touch with your club, coaches and teammates, and check that everyone has the support they need to get through this tough time together.

This is an ever-changing landscape and we will continue to rely on expert advice from the AFL, Government and Health authorities, to make the best decisions to sustain all of WA Football and to support the broader community we are all part of.

As an organisation, like many of our Clubs, we are immediately acting to ensure we have a financial model that supports us through this crisis. We are currently securing key revenue streams, making savings across our business, including the closure of Tuart College to protect our people and reduce costs. These are challenging and difficult times but with prudent financial management we will all find a way through.

We are also working with the AFL to develop a club support package to provide guidance and support for how Clubs can review their operations and approach in making sustainable savings. This is being worked on across this weekend and we will look to provide to the industry over coming days.

Our game and the people that make our game great are resilient. Let’s come together and work in the best interests of our game so we can rebound quickly and at the right time, play a key part in reconnecting communities right across Western Australia.

Thanks again for your support.
 
Sincerely, 

Gavin Taylor
WAFC CEO

Wayne Martin
WAFC Chairman