President Kylie Watson-Wheeler hails Club’s stability and exciting potential in speech during Charles Sutton Medal event.
By Western Bulldogs Media
Western Bulldogs President Kylie Watson-Wheeler has highlighted the Club’s stability and unity and declared that the entire organisation has “high hopes for what lies ahead”.
Speaking at the Charles Sutton Medal event at Crown Palladium, Watson-Wheeler hailed the recommitment of the Club’s biggest names and assured fans and members that “there’s no question momentum is building – we can all feel it”.
Reflecting on the AFL year, Watson-Wheeler noted that while the sting of the final-round defeat to Fremantle was still raw, the season as a whole provided plenty of thrilling memories and positive indicators for the future of the Club’s on-field performance.
“Our attacking play was electric. Our young guns stepped up and gave us a preview of what’s to come. Our leaders set a brilliant example, and we just fell short of finals in an unprecedented season when, in pretty much any other year, 14 wins would be a ticket to a finals appearance,” Watson-Wheeler said.
“Rest assured, no-one is content with that. We know we’re close. And while we may have raised the roof more than anyone, we certainly haven’t reached our ceiling.
“As our much-revered captain said after the last game of the home and away season, this was the end of a chapter, not the book. I for one am excited to see what’s on the pages to follow.”
Watson-Wheeler congratulated the Footscray Bulldogs on becoming VFL premiers after displaying “outstanding character and grit” to beat Southport in their recent Grand Final win. She also acknowledged the Club’s representation of five All Australian squad members, noting that “perhaps it should have been six” in reference to Aaron Naughton’s questionable omission.
In a year that saw the Bulldogs acknowledge the 100th anniversary of its entry to the VFL / AFL, Watson-Wheeler said it had been a wonderful opportunity for “celebration and reflection”.
“Anyone who was in attendance at the MCG for our Round 2 game against Collingwood won’t soon forget that remarkable occasion as Bob Murphy told our story to the nation … and we saluted so many of our legends at the home of footy,” she said.
“Later in the year we selected our 25 Greatest Bulldogs – those players who have represented the red, white and blue with the greatest distinction. For a Club that has seen so much individual brilliance over the past century it was certainly no easy task.”
“As I noted in the foreword of our new Club history – Bulldogs Through & Through – Mission Whitten Oval might look a little different these days but we remain true to who we are, to our values and where we’ve come from and we still proudly call Footscray our home and our heartland.”
Watson-Wheeler noted that support for the Club had never been stronger and thanked the red, white and blue army of members for their commitment to the cause.
“Thanks to you all, our support has never been stronger. Our home attendance exceeded 400,000, a new record. Our membership totalled more than 65,000, a new record. Our social following is far beyond 700,000, also a new record. Our broadcast viewership is through the roof. Our footy is beyond ready for prime time,” she said.
“Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to making that happen, from our board of directors through to our executive team led by Ameet (Bains) and our administration staff who hold each other to the highest standards and do everything they can to make our Club as good as it can possibly be.
“If you’re a member of our Club I thank you for your support. It truly means everything to us. You are already a part of our history and I hope you’ll continue on this journey with us as we seek to explore greater heights.”