Last night’s Malcolm Blight Medal event was a chance to reflect on the season, recognise outstanding individual performances and acknowledge the huge amount of work that goes into representing our Club.
A special congratulations goes to our captain, Jordan Dawson, who claimed a fourth Malcolm Blight Medal and, in doing so, set a new Club record. It is an extraordinary achievement – even more so when delivered during a year of great personal challenge – and a reflection of Jordan’s consistency, competitiveness and ability to perform when it matters most.
I also want to congratulate Lachie McAndrew, or Stretch as he’s affectionately known, on finishing runner-up and Alex Neal-Bullen on placing third. Both produced remarkably consistent seasons. Stretch, in particular, went from strength-to-strength in his first AFL season of having to back up week-after-week.
I’d also like to make mention of Wayne Milera’s exceptional season which saw him named as an All-Australian for the first time.
As part of last night’s event, I was delighted to share that Izak Rankine has committed to a five-year contract extension. Izak is not only one of the most exciting talents in the competition, but he is also deeply invested in what we are building together. His decision to extend long-term reflects his belief in our direction, our people and our ambition to deliver success. We look forward to seeing him continue to play a central role in our journey ahead.
Away from the field, another important milestone is taking shape at Thebarton, with turf being laid on the main oval at our new headquarters over the past week.
It’s also a timely reminder of what persistence can achieve. The journey to Thebarton has had its share of setbacks, obstacles and moments when the easier option might have been to compromise, reduce the ambition or walk away. We haven’t. Our Club will be much better for it.
The hardest part of any ambitious path comes after the early excitement has passed. When people are tired of hearing about progress and simply want to see the outcome.
Our football journey now demands the same resolve. We have built a strong platform. We have talented people. We have extraordinary support. We have a clear direction.
Right now, we are a good club but we have the opportunity to become a great club. There are no guarantees. That is our challenge and it is one we must embrace together.
The trade period is not far away and our strategy will continue to be disciplined and needs-specific. At the same time, and in the pursuit of sustained success, we are conscious of the value of draft picks, particularly with upcoming drafts to be compromised by Tasmania’s entry into the competition.
Finally, our AFLW team is heading towards the pointy end of their season. We meet our cross-town rivals Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval tonight – and it’s a must win if we are to make finals. We hope to see plenty in Crows colours there to help get us across the line.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. Go Crows!
Tim
