Dear members and supporters,

After what felt like an endless off season, suddenly we are at Round 1 - that time of year when footy fans - including me - are brimming with hope, excited and optimistic about the possibilities of the upcoming season.

Tomorrow night our captain Jy Simpkin will lead a team of new and not-so-new faces onto Marvel Stadium. Finn O’Sullivan, Jacob Konstanty, Caleb Daniel, Jack Darling and Luke Parker will pull on the royal blue and white for the first time. Darcy Tucker will pull on an AFL jumper for the 150th time. And our club will begin our 100th year in the VFL/AFL competition.

Earlier this week, I spoke openly and honestly to our players and coaches about what our Board and all of our members and supporters hope and expect from the season ahead.

Yes, we have seen small signs of growth over the past two seasons under Clarko’s watch, and yes we have the youngest list in the competition, but now we want some real progress.

We’ve had a lot of change over the past six years or so and stability is something we’ve been striving for since Todd Viney and Clarko joined our club.

In football, you cannot put a price on the importance of consistency in the program and in your people.  This is the bedrock for improvement and for the first time in a long time, our coaching group and program staff have remained the same from one season to the next.

Our footballers have had a significant pre-season at Arden Street and our high performance and coaching teams have crafted a fit, healthy and highly engaged list. 

You, our members have played your part too. You’ve turned up, you continue to support and encourage and hold us to account, you’re loud and you’re passionate. We’ve heard from a lot of you over the break - and the sense of optimism and excitement is palpable. 

Our players have worked hard over the summer, and their commitment and connection to one another and to our club is unquestionable - they believe in it as much as you and I do. 

Now that belief needs to turn into action.

Whether they are like Jackson Archer who has practically grown up within the walls of Arden Street, or Jy Simpkin who is building a legacy of his own, or Finn O’Sullivan and Jacob Konstanty whose journeys in the jumper begin tomorrow – we expect our players to play with pride and with that Shinboner spirit that binds us all together.

The honour of pulling on the jumper demands their best. So we expect them to bring their best, be their best, and demand the best from one another.  

Bring on season 2025. 

See you at the footy. Go Roos!

Sonja