President's AGM Report
Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to the Maroochydore Australian Football Clubs 2017 AGM. The 2017 season has been an extremely memorable year for the Maroochydore Roo’s AFC. For the first time in the clubs history, we fielded 6 teams - 3 senior men’s, 2 senior women’s and our U18.5 colt’s team. That equates to – 140 registered male players, 57 registered female players, 14 coaches, 8 team managers, 6 runners, 3 trainers and medical staff – the list goes on and on. To co-ordinate, organise and carry out the day to day running of this footy club takes an enormous amount of work and therefore I’d to congratulate all the volunteers involved in making the day to day - work so well at this footy club. The 2017 season brought with it 3 amazing premierships. The first team to deliver a premiership this year was our Sunshine Coast / Wide Bay Div 1 boys, (or) better known as our Thirds. Following their Grand Final victory last year, it was fantastic to see our boys go back to back and win their 2nd consecutive premiership. All credit needs to go the joint coaches Leigh Roberts and Leigh Wilson for their efforts both on and off the field in bringing this team together as one. Well done to all those involved on a very well deserved (back to back) premiership. Our Colts - pulled a rabbit out of the hat - to deliver our 2nd premiership for the year with a thrilling 2 point victory over Aspley. After trailing all day, the drive and determination of our next generation of senior’s players shone through, and with less than 30 seconds on the clock – the boys hit the front and the rest as they say, is now history. An amazing end to a sensational season from Coach Phil Birchmore and our colt boys. Well done. And finally, after 21 longs years our senior men delivered our first Division 1 premiership since 1996, and to make the victory just that little bit sweeter - we beat our arch enemy the Noosa Footy Club. It was a sensational turn around v Noosa - with 2 defeats in the home and away season, followed by a 39 point defeat in the first final. But, our Roo boys saved their best until - that last day in September, winning the Grand Final by 21 points. Congratulations to our senior coach Andrew Cadzow and his coaching staff for an excellent coaching performance. After finishing runners up in 2015 & 2016 it’s a victory that so many people at this club, worked so hard to achieve. Congratulation to all involved on a job well done. To summarize our on field – after such a long time without success, we’ve now won 5 premierships over the past 2 years. I firmly believe the monkeys off the back and now it’s time to capitalize on the strong culture and playing list we currently have - and, too continue with the success we’ve created at this club. Moving away from our efforts on the field, I’m proud of what the current committee has achieved this year. In particular I’m very proud of the following: First, the appointment of a part time operations manager, in my view has been the best administration appointment in my time as President. As the club has grown, and continues to grow, the amount of work required to successfully administrate the club is simply too much for a volunteer. The appointment of Lisa Daldy to the position has been a complete success, and as my right hand man (person) and as someone whom I communicate with almost daily, Lisa has done an amazing job and really needs to be congratulated on the work she has done. And secondly, the naming of our reserves and senior best and fairest awards after Lyndsay Halson and Geoff Drummond was a decision made that will forever connect the current group of players with a generation of past Roo’s These two men who did an enormous amount of work to keep the Maroochydore Roo’s alive when it was down on its knee’s will forever be remembered as legends of the Maroochydore Football Club The link with the past generation of the Maroochydore Roo’s and the new generation is not a strong one, and I believe this decision is a step in the right direction to bridging that gap. Off the field, the club remains in a strong financial position. Our Treasurer’s report (to be tabled) will reflect the club has moved towards a more professional organisation, with positions and roles with in the club moving away from the traditional volunteering and moving more towards paid positions with in the club. To our Coaches, Team Managers and Players, I thank you for the time and effort you’ve invested into the club through out the year. The 5 premierships over the past 2 years, is reward for all the hard work you’ve put in, and I believe with the quality of the people around the club at the moment, there are many more premierships on the horizon. To all the volunteers at the club, on behalf of the committee I would like to say thank-you for the time and effort you put into the footy club through out the year, it is impossible for our club to operate with out your help, and it is very much appreciated. To our sponsors and supporters I’d like to thank you for you’re on going support through out the year. As with our volunteers, we simply can not operate with out your help and support. And finally, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the commitment of our Committee for 2017. I’d like to thank you for the time and effort you’ve put into the club over the past 12 months. You’ve all played your part this year, and your contribution to the club is very much appreciated. Regards Matt Bury