Western Bulldogs President Kylie Watson-Wheeler has hailed the "clear progress" that the Club has made this year and said she is "thrilled by the possibilities" that lie ahead.
Speaking at the Charles Sutton Medal event at Crown Palladium, Watson-Wheeler reflected on a year that began with the Club under intense external scrutiny after a pre-season review and a slow start on the field.
"As a Club, we remained calm, stood strong and weathered the storm. Change takes time to settle in," Watson-Wheeler said.
"Throughout the season we saw improvement, cohesion and some precious consistency. Young guns fired, veterans thrived and our stars lit up the sky. In a magical month we convincingly beat the top three teams on the ladder in consecutive rounds.
"It was a rollercoaster ride that ultimately saw us qualify for Finals in one of the most competitive seasons on record.
"We played in front of almost 98,000 people at the MCG on what became a historic occasion for our Club. While there’s certainly a sense of lost opportunity with the result, the story was inarguably epic."
Watson-Wheeler said that expectations for the team to compete deep into September had not wavered: "We’ve seen clear progress and we’ll do everything we can as a Club to ensure this continues next year and beyond."
The President thanked everyone at the Club as well as their families and friends for efforts "both seen and unseen" to deliver elite footy every week.
"Modern footy demands more time, dedication and resolve than ever before. Every contribution matters," she said.
"To those support networks around every single one of you, your friends and families, without whom none of this would be possible, our sincere appreciation."
Watson-Wheeler also spoke of her excitement at the prospect of being a “genuine destination Club” following the completion of Mission Whitten Oval.
"2025 will be our first full season in our state-of-the-art redevelopment where our playing groups will reap the benefits of our new facility for the entire year," Watson-Wheeler said.
"Those of you who work there or have visited can testify to what a remarkable facility it now is and what a privilege it is for us to call it our home, remaining in our heartland.
"We’re thrilled by the possibilities now before us, with the opportunity to be a genuine destination Club in this competition and to build sustained, generational success.
"A heartfelt thank you to everyone whose hard work and generosity has contributed to getting us to where we are today."
Watson-Wheeler also hailed the commitment of the Club's members after another record increase in numbers.
"Our total membership surges on and now stands at more than 62,000," Watson-Wheeler said.
"My sincere appreciation to every one of you who has made that commitment to us for your passion and belief in what we do. Your support is truly the lifeblood of our Club.
"And to everyone who has engaged with our Club in any way throughout the year, thank you and here's to even more exciting times, which surely lie ahead."
