Jeremy, Gary Pert is attending a conference of AFL ceo’s in Queensland but sent this through to pass on.
Regards,
Stephen
Jeremy,
Thanks for taking the time to pen your thoughts, some of which I agree with.
It is an incredibly frustrating time for us all.
A couple of things I would take you up on, though.
Our football department strategy – a draft-led rejuvenation of the list – has been well known to all, almost from the time it was developed, at the end of 2013. It remains in place and we remain confident it will produce the results we all want.
Which is not to say we are simply waiting for progress to arrive. Football is at the core of our existence and not a day passes without great thought and effort being put to improving our team and the program around it.
When I spoke on ANZAC Day of continuing to aim for finals I did so in circumstances that are very different to the circumstances now before us. No-one could foresee then that by round six we would have 15 players injured, that we would have shuffled 16 players through our back six or that we would be less experienced and younger than sides such as Carlton, as a result.
Against the Blues, for example, our attack consisted of Ben Crocker (0 matches), Mason Cox (2 matches), Darcy Moore (15 matches) and Jesse White (returning to the team after being groomed in the VFL for a role in defence). This, I assure you, was not a formation designed as much as forced upon us by the absences of Dane Swan, Jamie Elliott, Travis Varcoe and Jeremy Howe, who was required to play back due to the incredible number of half-backs and deep defenders lost to injury.
Much of the strength, experience and talent within squad that gave us reasons to be optimistic in 2016 is, for the moment, unavailable. This is not a lack of direction but personnel.
As I suspect you well understand, we compete in a heavily legislated sport that works against sustained success. We are trying, in so many ways, to defy the system in which we compete so it is harsh to suggest that when we lose games we are turning away from, or cutting ourselves adrift from, our members and fans.
From membership ticket price freezes to our significant investment in new media technologies that open up our ability to talk to or connect with our members and fans, anywhere, any time, we are focussed constantly on making the experience of being a Collingwood supporter a richer one.
We want you, and everyone else who shares your passion for Collingwood, to be proud of all that your club does, which includes staying true to our humble beginnings by trying to give back.
I welcome your feedback, because we must listen to people like you, but also because it tells me that you remain passionate about, and invested in, Collingwood.
Thanks again,
Gary
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