Club president Brett Raponi thanked the city for hosting the event and for its ongoing support.
‘It is one thing to be honoured by our footy peers but to be honoured by local government is quite something special,’ he said. ‘We certainly enjoy a fabulous relationship with the city.’
City chief executive Garry Hunt praised his West Perth counterpart David Crute and was impressed the club’s recent successful pitch for funding had focused on the community.
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READ NOW‘You linked it to community which is what we’re about, we’re a community government.’ Mr Hunt said. ‘I thank you for that.’ Mayor Troy Pickard congratulated the club on its success and wished it well for season 2014 and for the building of its new clubrooms to which the city had committed $4 million.
He said the club was fortunate it could tap into the talent pool of young players in the cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo, the sixth quickest-growing corridor in Australia.
With a strong proportion of the area’s residents born overseas, there was also an opportunity to attract new followers to Aussie Rules.
Mr Raponi said West Perth wanted to be the dominant club in the WAFL and the most dominant sporting club in the northern suburbs.
‘The corporate support we receive in form of sponsorship from the city is outstanding; it allows us to enhance our brand and run programs in the community and strengthen our footy club,’ he said.