The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Football Club will enter the 2023 season in a strong and stable position.
Current Chairman John Khoury, together with Chief Executive Aaron Warburton, Chief Operating Officer John White and General Manager of Football Phil Gould AM, addressed Football Club Members at the 88th Annual General Meeting (AGM) with a message of strength and stability leading into the 2023 season.
Chairman John Khoury acknowledged and thanked Members and staff of the Football Club for their efforts in returning the game to its' pre-COVID affected state. He noted some challenges that the Club had faced over the past few seasons but reiterated the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes to which the Club is just starting to reap the benefits of:
"This is not about an overnight feel good story. This is about a journey. We want everyone to come on this journey with us. That is, the ups the downs, and we stay united," he said.
Among a number of announcements, the Club revealed the return of Bulldogs great James Graham to an official capacity with the Club, and also the plans to break dirt within 12 months on a new Centre of Excellence.
Chief Executive Aaron Warburton said: "A little under two years ago, we committed to building a club of sustained excellence. As complex as our Club and the NRL landscape, is we focused on building a strategy that delivers on six crucial areas of our business. We have three key pillars: community, commercial and football. And we have three enablers that help us to deliver the results of the pillars: our people, our digital assets and our physical assets.
"Thanks to $40 million of funding from the State Government, we're on our way to building a world class Center of Excellence at Belmore Sports Ground. A three level facility plugged into the back of the hill with multiple training fields, it will be home to everyone at the Club."
Further to the announcements, the Club was proud to reveal its' connection back to the community through our schools, hospitals and not for profits.
"We needed to rediscover what it meant to represent Canterbury-Bankstown. Our players are focused on spending more time in the community meeting fans, signing autographs, taking photos, and generally just being present. We're proud of our area. And we're focused on giving back," said Warburton.
Chairman John Khoury explained how the commercial program is in a strong position with loyal support from Sponsors. Support that places the Club's sponsorship program on track to break all time records in 2024.
On a membership front, the Club is also on track to break the 20,000 Members mark.
Operations aside, it is a successful football program that will be the key driver of growth, community pride and ultimately profit for the Club. A program in which the financials demonstrate how heavily invested the Club is, clearly focused on sustained growth and sustained excellence for the Bulldogs.
"We're starting to see the fruits of our investment, however, we have a fair way to go. We're committed to the journey," Warburton added.
Phil Gould AM spoke to the position of strength that the Bulldogs Academy is in, with teams now playing under the Bulldogs badge in all junior representative premier competitions from Harold Matthews all the way to the NRL, and with representation from the Lisa Fiaola Cup through to Harvey Norman Womens, with a bid in for the NRLW expansion. Importantly, he noted the difference he has felt over the past 12 months:
"I would have to say that this offseason, it has probably been one of the most productive off seasons I have ever seen. The program that these fellas have run has been absolutely extraordinary. It's been world class. And I'm hoping that comes out on the field. But what it's done, it's set us up for the future," he said.
Speaking to the growth area in the extension of our recruitment and development, Gould explained how the Club is creating more opportunities for talent and more visible pathways to the NRL.
The Board consisting of: John Khoury (Chair), Peter Mortimer (Deputy Chair), Andrew Gifford, Peter McMahon, Joe Thomas, Paul Polly, and Adam Driussi have left the Football Club Members with a vote of confidence from the AGM, and will now look to continue to work with the Executive and Senior Leadership team to deliver against the Club's strategic plan.
The meeting also saw the bestowing on Life Membership on two worthy recipients in Aiden Tolman and Josh Jackson.
Board Member, Adam Driussi spoke to Josh Jackson's loyal and wonderful career whilst fellow Board Member, Peter McMahon acknowledged Aiden's embodiment of traditional Bulldogs values: strength, resilience and family.
Both nominations received full support, voted to Life Membership unanimously:
