West Adelaide all things 2021

New coach Brad Gotch

Post away

Very enthusiastic about the new coach but we have a lot of sow's ears who are never going to be silk purses, so how we go next year will depend almost entirely on our Ins and Outs.

New Assistant Adam Hartlett, Plus signing Kieran Lovell

Gotch will be a revelation at West.
he is not only a great coach, he's a real people person and people manager as well.
Every player at your club will improve under his guidance, he will make ordinary players better.
Find 2-3 good recruits and you'll be right in the thick of it.
We were a basket case when he arrived at South and he took us to a prelim in his first year.

Hearing the Bloods throwing some coin at a high profile, money hungry player, with a strong family connection.

Big Phil wrote:Hearing the Bloods throwing some coin at a high profile, money hungry player, with a strong family connection.

I don't think that's right.

Flag No.10 wrote:

Big Phil wrote:Hearing the Bloods throwing some coin at a high profile, money hungry player, with a strong family connection.

I don't think that's right.

Xavier Gotch ? Or do you mean another player?

I wouldn't think Xavier would classify as high profile.

Flag No.10 wrote:

Big Phil wrote:Hearing the Bloods throwing some coin at a high profile, money hungry player, with a strong family connection.

I don't think that's right.

Actually I take that back BigPhil. I thought you were referring to someone else but yes, you may well be right.

Flag No.10 wrote:

Flag No.10 wrote:

Big Phil wrote:Hearing the Bloods throwing some coin at a high profile, money hungry player, with a strong family connection.

I don't think that's right.

Actually I take that back BigPhil. I thought you were referring to someone else but yes, you may well be right.

Hmmmm

https://glenelgfc.com.au/news/hosie-durdin-and-pink-sign-for-2021/

Lachie Hosie, Toby Pink and Sam Durdin sign for Glenelg.

Bottom of the article advised Bryce Gibbs will NOT be at the Bays in 2021.

Interesting that Durdin chose to not return to his original club West Adelaide.

Maybe Gibbs might end up at The Bloods?

Kane Stevens is dating or possibly engaged to Gibbs' sister.

Dallas Willsmore teturning to Victoria and Jack Agostino back to Renmark.

McGuire a big IN for Bloods, can seriously play.

Yes, I watched him a lot with Canberra and we tried to recruit him last year.

While watching him, I was impressed by another Canberra player, but we missed out on him.

Tom Highmore.

Lee wrote:Yes, I watched him a lot with Canberra and we tried to recruit him last year.

While watching him, I was impressed by another Canberra player, but we missed out on him.

Tom Highmore.

Just as well you didn't recruit him. Gone. You have an eye for talent. A reason interstate players come to the SANFL is they get noticed.

Yes, Goddy.

Recruiters (including me previously) spend a lot of time familiarising themselves with players.

I used to watch hours of Tasmanian, NEAFL and VFL vision, as well as live games.

I noticed Highmore while specifically watching another player.

I was also familiar with Rhyan Mansell of course, as obviously were the Eagles.

Your team will be very different next year, but I enjoyed watching them last season and they were deserved winners. You'll miss Rowe and Hayes in particular and have obviously lost your promising emerging talent, which is a problem.

West Adelaide are pleased to announce the signing of past North Melbourne player Tom Murphy.

Tom was drafted with pick 4 in the 2017 rookie draft and played 9 AFL games including 5 in 2020 before being delisted at the end of the season.

Originally from the Dandenong Stringrays, the 189cm defender is known for his penetrating kick, good decision-making and mix of bursting speed and endurance.

Football Manager Wayne Siekman said, “The club is over the moon to have signed a player of Tom’s quality. A player who has AFL experience this year with North Melbourne and performed his role during his games is a further bonus for the club.”

“He is in the prime of his football life and with his ability to use the ball and hit targets, he will add further class to the team in 2021.”

“The most important part of this signing is his character. Tom is a terrific person, and will no doubt help and improve the players around him and use the experiences he has had at an AFL club to assist players of the standard to be able to perform at the highest level consistently.”

“We cannot wait to get Tom to West Adelaide to meet the players, staff and supporters and I have no doubt fans will love seeing him play and equally as important, improve the quality on the field in 2021.”

Tom said he was looking forward to coming to West Adelaide saying, “from the conversations I have had with Wayne and Gotchy the club is taking the right direction and I’m excited to make the move from Melbourne.”

“I feel that West Adelaide is the best spot for me to continue to grow as a footballer. It sounds like the West Adelaide Football Club are on the right path and I can’t wait to get started.”

Welcome to Westies Tom!

Westies doing some handy recruiting under Gotchy.

Big Phil wrote:Hearing the Bloods throwing some coin at a high profile, money hungry player, with a strong family connection.

Any update on this one phil

blacky wrote:

Big Phil wrote:Hearing the Bloods throwing some coin at a high profile, money hungry player, with a strong family connection.

Any update on this one phil

Yes, they landed at another club.

Big Phil wrote:

blacky wrote:

Big Phil wrote:Hearing the Bloods throwing some coin at a high profile, money hungry player, with a strong family connection.

Any update on this one phil

Yes, they landed at another club.

''they'' indicates more than one, is this correct ?

bayman wrote:

Big Phil wrote:

blacky wrote:

Big Phil wrote:Hearing the Bloods throwing some coin at a high profile, money hungry player, with a strong family connection.

Any update on this one phil

Yes, they landed at another club.

''they'' indicates more than one, is this correct ?

That would be correct, yes.

Not sure that's correct.

About West chasing them originally, I mean.

President’s Message to Members and Supporters – December 2020

Now that we are at the close of the year and preparing for the Annual General Meeting of the club, I want to recognise the efforts of each and every person who has worked so hard to add value to Westies during what has been a very difficult time.

I want to thank members of the Board of Directors who have been steadfast in their determination to implement strategies that have set a clear course for the future. Vice President Mark Goddard, in his role as Finance Director, has been unmoved in making sure that we have set and achieved our financial goals so that we can remain strong and can fund a better footy structure. Derek Bonner, as Football Director, has created an environment which sets us up as a club of choice for potential new recruits. Marteine Edwards is forging new pathways as Membership Director and is proactively seeking better ways to make membership of Westies something to be valued even more. Nick Karasoulos, a Life Governor and our Commercial and Sponsorship Director, has brought sponsors closer to the club and has strengthened those important commercial ties that are so vital to Westies. Jacqui Rose has been relentless as our People, Culture and Governance Director in building a sustainable and accountable framework for the club so that it meets its goals today and leaves a permanent blueprint for club managers and directors of the future. Troy Abbott, also a Life Governor, in his role as Assets and Venue Director has ensured that the right advice has always been provided to the club in the development, maintenance and protection of our infrastructure.

Together, the Board has worked as a tight and effective unit, aimed at delivering the best possible outcomes for the club as a whole. Each Director brings a unique mindset and array of skills to the table, but the power of the Board has been the creative and respectful blending of those unique qualities into a well-considered and well-rounded decision making process.

Several times in the last couple of years I have heard people talk about us being a so-called “business board”. The implication is that we make decisions which ignore the fact that we are, first and foremost, a football club. It is implied that we are unable to make decisions which will have a positive outcome over our success or otherwise on the field. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, our Directors are passionately invested in ensuring that the club enjoys on-field success. Two of them, as noted above, are club Life Governors. The Board feels each lack of success deeply and works harder after each loss to find ways to improve. Personally, I find it insulting to the professionalism of all the individual Directors when it is implied that all they care about is making “business” decisions with no regard for the on-field success that we all crave. The last thing this club needs is unfounded comments which do nothing other than create the potential for divisiveness at Westies. We’re all in this together and I urge everyone to work together.

Particular thanks must go to our CEO Ben Hopkins. He has been a great leader of the club and has been single-minded and professional in the execution of his duties. He has always put the club first and has been instrumental in developing strong relationships with all its stakeholders. Thanks also to Ben’s loyal and hard-working staff – a very effective and tight team indeed.

I want to acknowledge the valuable support provided by SANFL. This is an organisation with whom we have been working together very closely. Westies are part of SANFL – without them we wouldn’t be who we are today. Their interest in the health and success of our club has been unwavering. The Board has enjoyed having Neil Matotek as a regular guest at Board meetings and his advice and assistance has been invaluable as we have been working towards common goals. I look forward to inviting Neil and other SANFL guests to future meetings.

As we prepare for the upcoming Annual General Meeting, I want to thank our outgoing Directors whose positions will become vacant in accordance with the terms of our club constitution. Nick, Jacqui and Troy have contributed so much over the last couple of years and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude for their work. They have been energetic and vibrant members of the Board. Nick and Jacqui will hand over their respective portfolios to the successful applicants who have applied to the nominations committee for recommendation, and Troy’s portfolio will be passed to the next member-elected candidate. All three have already expressed their desire to continue in roles that will support the club into the future and we thank them for that.

I know that 2020 has been a challenging year. Enough has been written about that already. Our focus now must be on making 2021 a success. Everything is in place for that to happen. We have a stronger, more robust platform from which to launch our campaign for next season. We must work together to realise the rewards that are just around the corner. As we contemplate the exciting prospects for next year, I wish you all a restful and enjoyable holiday period. I hope it brings you and your friends and families together in a spirit of peace and happiness.

Go Bloods.

Murray Forbes