On behalf of the Board of the AFL Players’ Association it is my pleasure to present the 2013 AFL Players’ Year in Review.
Whilst 2013 was a difficult year for the AFL industry, there were a number of great achievements which have been captured through the eyes of the players in this publication.
Featuring articles from the biggest names in the game, this publication captures the essence of the Association – written for players, by players.
From Zac Smith’s fascinating insight into what makes Gary Ablett Jnr tick, to the reflections of founding member Geoff Pryor on the 40th Anniversary of the Association, this 52 page publication is a source of great pride for the players.
In 2013, the Association delivered a number of major new initiatives, including the introduction of the AFL Players’ Trust which will assist former players who are facing hardship due to injury or illness, as well as the launch of the Indigenous Best Practice Policy which is detailed from the perspective of Indigenous Advisory Board Chairman Adam Goodes.
The Association also launched the first-ever fan voted representative team –22under22 – which inaugural captain Dyson Heppell explains provides great recognition to the young talent in our game.
The 2013 season saw players take a lead on a number of social issues, with Brock McLean writing about the #Footy4IDAHO campaign and why players taking the lead in this space is so important to helping raise awareness about the damaging impact of homophobic language and help drive change in this space.
On the eve of the 2014 Home and Away Season, our Association has never been in a stronger position to continue achieving great outcomes for players and the game and look forward to building on the momentum generated throughout 2013.