OUR VALUED broadcast and corporate partners, our 18 clubs and their players, and ALL our fans – old and new, ladies and gentlemen: welcome to the Toyota AFL Premiership Season launch for 2018.
I love that story about Dema and her Dad, Stephen.
It reminds those of us who have loved the game our whole lives -- that it is not so familiar … to everyone.
That our game is like Australia itself – rich with opportunity…
A game that defies preconception, that defies stereotyping.
A game that constantly surprises…
- Girls like Dema playing in western Sydney,
- A professional women’s league….
- Richmond rising from 13th to win after 37 years and blowing the doors right off the building!!!
The 2017 Premiership season was a year of surprises, in which anyone could beat anyone, providing hope for our nearly 11 million supporters.
Sixty times during the year, the underdog won the match – there were upsets every round.
And the eight finalists were decided ONLY in the dying seconds of the last of the 198 games of the home and away season.
And the Tigers provided the “you cannot make this up” ending and delivered hope to all fans that their club can make it too.
I want to add my congratulations to the Richmond Football Club.
The board held their nerve and provided the stability, the footy department provided the boldness, the players did their bit and Damien and Trent provided the leadership.
A remarkable win.
It was a fairytale ending to a great year.
Here’s another fairytale.
I had a phone call from Mark Robinson from the Herald Sun yesterday – not normally a call that would fill me with joy.
But it did, because – and I am sorry if I am damaging your brand here Robbo – but it was simply to say – he can’t wait for the footy – it is alive and kicking – it is in great shape – and the 2018 season is as exciting as he can recall.
He was a little ray of sunshine actually. Potentially it was a crank call?
Robbo is a self-declared footy addict – and this is what ties our game together.
You can see it in that video – Dema’s father getting addicted when he saw our game: the tackling, the running, the kicking, the athleticism, the excitement, the passion.
We can all relate to his reaction – and we feel proud.
He fell in love with our game because it is the best game to watch, the best team to be in, the best community to join.
Everyone in this room has a reason to be proud of about the state of our game.
2017 was a stellar year:
We had over 6.7 million people walk through the gates – smashing the all-time record and a seven per cent increase on 2016.
Our opening weekend had over 400,000 supporters, breaking the record attendance ever for a single round.
We had record numbers of Australians join our 18 clubs at 907,000 members.
Because our role as custodians is to continue to progress the game while respecting its heritage.
Our growth agenda is clear – kids, women, and families, NSW and Queensland.
The hunger and commitment is there from all 18 Clubs – to grow their supporter bases, to introduce more Australians to our game –
To those who are yet to see Buddy Franklin run down the wing of the SCG
… or experience an MCG roar,
… or have a pie at the local footy club on a Saturday afternoon, whether they be hipsters from Northcote or newly arrived migrants in western Sydney.
And the 2018 Premiership season provides the perfect sales pitch to new fans – it is as tantalising as any I can remember:
Every Club can see their path to the Premiership
Every fan has a right to hope.
And who knows what the stars of our game may bring?
There are stories everywhere.
Dusty v Danger as the game’s elite midfielder or is Nat back?
The New Perth Stadium coming online, a stunning expanded venue that will do for Perth, the Eagles and the Dockers what Adelaide Oval has done for that town
and for the Crows and Port. Roaring tribal footy matches that will bring more people to the football, and get fans travelling to follow their team.
And, perhaps in the most outlandish fairytale of them all – can the little champ back at Geelong deliver another Premiership?
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Round one is only eight days away. The Blues are breathing and the Tigers are roaring. We are on track to have 90,000 fans at the MCG.
In an intriguing game on Saturday night, Collingwood and Hawthorn, two of the big clubs face off. The Hawks have a new President – good luck finding your feet Jeff….
On Sunday, the Dogs meet GWS. Depending on what you read or who you listen to, the Giants have missed their chance or are the premiership favourite and the Dogs have rediscovered their hunger or are still basking in their triumph. Time will tell.
And then there's Melbourne v Geelong at the 'G. The Demons really would be a fairytale, as would the Bombers or the Saints, while the Suns, the Lions and the Kangaroos have all shown improvement over the summer, and best of luck to Stuart Dew, our only new senior coach.
Football is alive and well.
Of course, there are challenges in our great game.
In Tasmania, there are some issues which need to be addressed.
But I promise you, the AFL will not forget or abandon one of our founding states.
Football is about a sense of belonging and connection and we will work with all of Tasmania and its fans to ensure that happens.
Can I say to all our Clubs – the best of luck with the season.
To our players, may you soar as high as you can.
And to our fans – the 2018 season is as open as any in our 121 years of the men's competition.
Get out and support your club – wear your scarves and barrack as hard as you can – you just never know – like Richmond 12 months ago – it might be your year.
See you at the footy.
