Hey Bombers

We are halfway through the season. I hope that you have been enjoying the season and observing the development of the players.

One of the big changes at the Bombers this season has been the increase in game day volunteers. Thank you to everyone who has stepped up this year to support coaches and managers create a positive experience for all.

With the Ted Lasso season final this week, please consider taking a phrase from Ted. Stop and share with one of our volunteers an ‘I appreciate you’ statement. There is a growing body of evidence that these acts of gratitude help people to cope and make us all happier.

Reconciliation Week
Good for Footy

Reconciliation Week
This week has been National Reconciliation Week 2023, to Be a Voice for Generations, which encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives, where we live, work and socialise.
For the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, let’s choose to create a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all.

You may have seen an apology by the AFL CEO Gill McLachlan this week, a key quote was “The AFL knows that during the long history of our game, there have been instances of racism and that players have been marginalised, hurt or discriminated against because of their race and for that we say sorry.”

As a code, there is more to be done. This week is a reminder that I need to learn more so that when I do speak I am informed and then contribute positively to the discussion. And as a community club, we need to live out our value of inclusion and create a culturally safe place for players and their families.

An easy way to learn more is to read some articles about the new statute at the SCG of Adam Goodes, a legend of the Swans and AFL (picture with Michael O’Loughlin and co-founder of Go Foundation https://www.gofoundation.org.au/). If you missed it, Adam Goodes was interviewed on ‘Get Real with Rio’ https://www.weare8.com/post/grwr
Stay to the end of the show to see what Adam ‘brought in his bag’.

Good for Footy
Thank you if you have bought a ticket, we have achieved 15% of our target and currently sitting outside the top 10 nationally. Please do not delay selling your 20 tickets, there are club prizes for players and teams who sell the most tickets. Let’s get into the top 5 by the end of the weekend.

With the Ted Lasso season finale this week, I wanted to add a quote from last week, Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola was speaking, it could have been our Club Coach Ben Carrick.

“Don’t worry about the wins or losses. Just help these guys be the best version of themselves on and off the pitch. This, at the end, is the most important thing.”

As a club, let us continue to support each other to be the best version of ourselves.

Go the Bombers

Tod
President MAFC