Midseason Update From President Russell Smith

Dear Subiaco Football Club Members,

I am pleased to share with you our 2024 midseason update. Although the men’s team haven't seen the success on the field that we had hoped for, our Rogers Cup girls are this weekend, fighting for a spot in the Grand Final to be played in two weeks. We wish them well and encourage members to get along and support the girls as they continue to fight for the ultimate prize. With their strong season and the football programs we have in place, we are confident about the future that lies ahead for our senior men’s and our senior women’s teams.

Beyond the football field, 2024 to date has been an exciting year for us. We have successfully secured $3.8 million of State funding for new lights and turf for Leederville Oval. This project, driven by many dedicated parties, will allow us to host night games at our Oval and ensure we can accommodate men's and women's matches on the same day. 

In addition to this, the City of Stirling has secured funding to upgrade our secondary facilities at Des Penman Reserve, the training base for our colts, talent, and women's programs. The partnership with the City of Stirling will directly enhance our football pathway programs and include improvements to lights, change rooms, gym, and clubhouse facilities. This achievement will provide these important programs with the necessary resources for consistent success.

These accomplishments are a significant milestone that strengthens our Club unity and drives us towards becoming a truly integrated community club, offering more opportunities for football and non-football events.

Our commercial team has also been working hard to drive new revenue streams over the past 12 months, including acquiring more than twelve new sponsors and a long-term oval naming rights deal. This fantastic effort, led by Joe Georgiades, ensures we have a strong group of businesses as part of our community. Their contributions enable us to invest in our programs, community, and infrastructure, fostering growth and sustainability for the club.

We have also welcomed three new directors this year - Jenna Rennick, General Manager of Integrated Operations at Rio Tinto; Nikki Bower, Head of Partnerships and Bankwest and former Head of Marketing at the West Australian Football Commission; and Scott Wright, Communications Specialist at Perth Airport. Their addition to the board will help shape our strategy for the future and continue to drive the club in the right direction.

As you may have seen, we are thrilled to announce the reappointment of Beau Wardman as our senior men’s coach for another two years. Beau's commitment to the club and his efforts extend beyond the field. We are confident that under his leadership, the Subiaco Football Club will continue to achieve success and nurture both current and future generations of players.

In parallel with Beau Wardman's reappointment, we are equally thrilled to announce the re-signing of our women's senior coach, Baker Denneman. Baker has been instrumental in leading the team through a significant transitional period this year. Under his leadership, the team has built a solid foundation that promises to elevate our women’s program to new heights in the coming years. We are confident that with Baker's continued guidance, our women's teams will achieve even greater success and contribute to a robust and dynamic future for the Subiaco Football Club.

Overall, it is an exciting start to the year, and we are very optimistic about our progress as a football club. Our achievements off the field have set a solid foundation for our future success and for the Club to grow stronger together in an environment where every member feels proud and valued.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication. I look forward to seeing you at the footy and sharing more successes with you as the season progresses.

Best regards,

Russell ‘Rusty’ Smith