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Presidents Report - July 2018

A few months ago I sent out a Presidents report full of inspiration and the hope of making a difference in my role as President of the Knox Football Club. I was hoping to introduce some fresh new ideas and work on our Club Culture and Player Welfare. 

Our Player Welfare initiative, Outside the Locker Room, has been very well received with a high level of attendance and involvement from all our players – both male and female.  The feedback has been very positive and hopefully this program has better equipped our young adults with managing depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse and basically trying to deal with this adult world.

 Culture - It’s not a dirty word although it seems to be held up as a cutting criticism of an unsuccessful club. Club culture involves so much more than on-field success. The culture of our club is reflected in the values, beliefs, behaviours and expectations that our club holds. Creation of a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment, depicting a positive image, having our club be a place where people want to spend their time and becoming more respected by the community and other clubs.

 As you are all aware we struggled to fill a side against Vermont and ended up having to forfeit. This is not a position we ever wanted to be in, this was not a decision made lightly and whilst not surprising, was extremely disappointing.

 In the aftermath of that I was interviewed by the Leader newspaper and the report was pretty bleak – to say the least.  What a shame they haven’t done a follow up story - perhaps we should change our mascot from a falcon to a phoenix, because last week we rose from the ashes!!

 The Falcon community rallied together and 8 amazing men stepped up and offered to help boost our struggling numbers and don the Knox guernsey. I sincerely thank and admire Scott Woodward, Jeremy Bourke, Dennis Porcellato, Callum Mactier, Jarrod Allen, Gordon McCafferty, Charlie Griffin and Scott Gillan – the Knox community thanks you also. This is the kind of Club Culture we need to encourage - protecting the reputation of the Knox Football Club in the face of criticism, above all other considerations.

 I had not seen so many smiling faces around the club all season – the atmosphere and morale was electric. Even though the result wasn’t great the boost it gave to supporters, players and volunteers alike was incredible.

 So… I think we are getting there

Jane Barbanti - President

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