GIANTS Chairman Tony Shepherd says the club will be aiming to pay 100 per cent of the salary cap next year to help it win more games.
Speaking before the GIANTS’ last home game for 2013 at SKODA Stadium, he said the club was conscious that it needed to improve its on field performance in 2014.
“Make no mistake – we think this is going to be a great club. We also know that we are in a competitive market in Western Sydney,” he said.
“Football – and more particularly winning – will be a key performance driver and we need to continue to invest in talent and experienced players.
“That is why we will be aggressive in the forthcoming trade period and aim to pay 100 per cent of the salary cap next year to facilitate the recruitment of established players.
“With this and another pre-season under the belt of our young players at our new training centre, we are confident that we can follow the lead of the Gold Coast Suns in our third year.”
The GIANTS Board met with members of the AFL Commission and executive before the match to give them a progress report on the club as it approached the end of its second year in the competition.
“While we have recorded only one win this season so far, I’m pleased to say we are making very positive progress as a club,” Shepherd said.
He said the highlights included:
- Opening a world class venue in Skoda Stadium with average home crowds of nearly 10,000 in just our second year
- A membership base of 12,700 - growth of 23 per cent in 2013
- Building a strong corporate sponsorship base – club generated revenue has increased by 23 per cent in 2013
- The development of a first class training and administration centre at Sydney Olympic Park due to be completed at the end of this yea
- Re-signing 25 young players including Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar, Jonathon Patton as well as last year’s number one draft pick Lachie Whitfield until the end of 2016.
