10/09/2026
A personal note from our President ❤️
Today is R U OK? Day, and I wanted to take a moment to speak personally to our Cats community.
This year, perhaps more than most, we’ve been reminded that there are people within our club fighting their own battles, many of which we may never fully see or understand.
We see each other at training, on game day, behind the bar, around the clubrooms and on the sidelines. We celebrate the good stuff together, we but sometimes we don’t see what someone might be carrying when they head home.
Something I’ve had the privilege of seeing this year is what happens when people within a football club step up for each other. I’ve watched teammates check in on teammates, friends rally around each other, and coaches, volunteers and club people notice when someone isn’t quite themselves. I’ve seen people make time, offer support and simply be there when it was needed.
And that’s something we should be incredibly proud of.
At this time of year especially, football can bring incredible highs and some really difficult lows. Finals, selection, wins, losses and the end of a season can all carry more emotion than we sometimes realise … another reason to keep looking out for the people around us.
For me, today is a reminder to keep building on what we’ve seen this year — to make checking in on each other part of who we are, in the tough times and the everyday moments too.
Football clubs are about so much more than what happens on the field. As a club, I hope we continue to be a community where people feel connected, supported and comfortable reaching out when things aren’t quite right.
So today, check in on a teammate, coach, volunteer, parent, friend or someone you haven’t heard from in a while.
And let’s keep doing it tomorrow, next week and long after R U OK? Day has passed.
Look after yourselves, and look after each other.
Courtney Paulson | President