Happy 2023 Phantoms. I hope you’ve all had a restful Christmas and New Year, and are ready to take on 2023. 2023 is going to be an exciting and busy year for the Phantoms. Firstly we are celebrating 40 years as a member club of the WA Masters Association. Fremantle Phantoms were an inaugural club in the association, and 40 years on I am proud to say we are still going strong and are the envy of most clubs in the competition. This is in no small part to consistent good governance but especially the strength of the membership and you should all be proud to have worn the Phantoms guernsey. On top of this the association has included an indigenous round and we will be wearing a jumper designed by Dave ‘Wardong’ Collard, which will remain the property of the club, to be used in future years. Events that we are hoping to include in our calendar this year are, and in no particular order:

• Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

• Cricket Match

• Busselton Country Carnival

• Home Game Sponsors Luncheon

• 40th Anniversary Ball

• 100 Club Function.

On top of this we need to be mindful of supporting our hospitality sponsors, including King Road brewery (Mandurah fixture), National Hotel ( pub crawl or end of bus trip), Ballers (state of origin and footy match) and Emily Taylor (cocktail night??). We also need to continue to support all our sponsors, including Bibra Lake Soils, Force Finance, Melville Hyundai, Major Motors and MND. Whilst these rusted on sponsors provide strong support, we are always on the lookout for additional sponsors so if your company, your employer or a company you are associated with are interested in getting involved with an amazing organisation, please get in touch with myself or the committee so we can get the partnership started. We are just finalising the sponsorship flyer so that should be ready Thursday. Pre-season training is scheduled for the first Sunday in February, the 5th, most likely at Gil Fraser. Please keep an eye on the website. The fixture dates are on the website already which should help you schedule your year so that you can be available for as many rounds as possible. Rocket sent out an email pre-Christmas looking for an indication of your intention to play this year, so if you haven’t responded please do so we can plan accordingly. Registrations should be open in Play HQ shortly so keep an eye out for that as well. Regards, Steve Ross