A more mature Fremantle

by LES EVERETT

FREMANTLE Football Club CEO Cameron Schwab says the club is in a much better position to mount a finals campaign than when it took its first step into the big time in 2003.

"In many ways 2003 was a pleasant surprise," Schwab said, "the game doesn't give up its rewards easily and there was always going to be a correction.

c schwab

Fremantle Football Club CEO Cameron Schwab. Photo by Les Everett.

"The disappointment of 2004 and 2005 has been a key driver in everything we've done this year."

Schwab said that in 2003 the club was building commercially at the same time as it was building a team. Now, after a run of profit-making years, he believes the club has built a base and has been able to focus on team performance in a far more concentrated way.

"Our strong financial position enables us to focus on all the things that can give us an advantage and we're keen to exploit that opportunity," the CEO said.

"The difference as we move into the finals this year is that we're doing it with a continuity of good form and momentum and the senior players are three years older and three years better," Schwab said. "Added to that the next class, those who came into the system in 2002 and 2003 like Schammer, Crowley, Mundy, Johnson and Peake, are asserting themselves and backing up our quality draft choices like Longmuir, Hasleby and Pavlich."

The growth in experience has occurred in all parts of the club's operations. "Post-2001 effectively every major role at the club including president, coach and CEO has changed," Schwab said, "and all of those people now have four or five years of experience."

As the club has matured Schwab believes an atmosphere has been created whereby people are encouraged to take responsibility.

"Our on field leaders express that perfectly," Schwab said, "but the example I often use is Ben Tarbox (strength and conditioning coach) after the St Kilda game in Launceston.

"Despite everything that was going on he reminded the players there was a derby in six days and got their preparations underway. It immediately straightened up the club.

"As CEO it's a great feeling to be confident that everyone around you can do their jobs at a really high level."

From the Fremantle Herald.

Les Everett is a director of the Fremantle Football Club.

8 September 2006

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