As we are all aware, season 2019 has been a difficult one for our Club. The restructuring of the competition with the inclusion of several powerhouse clubs has certainly challenged us. We have essentially come from a 52-year period of YVMDFL success to this year having our senior team sitting in a most unfamiliar ladder position.

On a positive, our reserves and under 18’s are fighting it out for finals positions, our Netballers have acquitted themselves well as we continue to build the program and our Women’s football program goes from strength to strength.

In football, the relative strength of these new clubs has been compounded by what many would think is our longest, long-term injury list in recent memory across senior players. Combined with other player unavailability (travel) and retirements, the playing group has certainly been stretched.

What we have seen though is a playing group sticking fat. Training numbers have remained strong and the commitment to improve and meet the challenge is evident within the group at every session. This is a credit to senior coach David Bell and his assistants.

With David now joining the long-term injury list following a shoulder reconstruction, and having set his sights on rehabilitation in order to be able to play next season, he has advised the committee and the players that he does not intend on continuing his coaching journey into the 2020 season. He will focus on giving himself every opportunity to continue his playing career.

In making this decision David demonstrates his club first attitude. He could have waited the season out but instead is on the front foot and allowing the club to commence its search for someone to take us forward. To that end he is now actively assisting in the process of locating that next coach and assisting in player recruitment.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to David for his efforts this season and am sure his level of effort and attention to detail will not wane as the season continues.

When the adjustments to the AFL OE were made at the beginning of this season, we took the view as a club that over the 2019 season we would see what the gap was and in 2020 make moves to commence bridging that gap.

It was anticipated that the gap may be 6 – 8 goals. We are under no illusion that it is much larger. Obviously, player unavailability throughout the year has increased this gap, but none the less we understand it is much larger than advertised.

There has been speculation and conversation around the direction of other clubs in the competition. Those decisions belong to those clubs, who are aware of their own unique situations and must make decisions based on their circumstances.

Our position is we came into this with a plan to improve our club in all areas so that we could be more competitive and sustainable in 2020 and beyond. To that end we will be sticking the course.

• We will now seek a new coach to take us forward with a suitable style and experience for the competition we are now a part of
• We will improve the support we have around our playing group to ensure we can maximise what we currently have
• We will be active with our recruiting to improve our top end
• Our playing group will continue to improve and get something positive from the season

Rest assured we will leave no stone unturned to bridge the gap and be competitive in 2020 and beyond, establishing this club’s position within this new league (whatever that eventually looks like).

What do we need?

• We need our members, sponsors and supporters to stick with the playing group
• We need your support at the remaining games this season, especially the remaining 3 home games
• We need to see you on Thursday nights at the club rooms for a drink and a meal
• We need your support at functions – Past Players and Supporters Group luncheon, Players Function, the recently launched Tiger Den, Presentation Night etc.
• We need you to offer your assistance – there are many small projects that when we complete them will combine to see a big improvement in the clubs sustainability

If you’ve been around here for a long time like many of us have, you have had plenty of success to celebrate.

Now is the time to make the decision to be on board and contribute to our next successful era.

Once a Tiger, always a Tiger.

Craig Waters
President