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Dockers to sign major Woodside deal

EXCLUSIVE

By Mr Dandalooa

The Fremantle Football Club is poised to this morning announce that Woodside has signed up as a co-major sponsor of the Dockers.

Information obtained by FootyGoss found that club has signed a three-year deal for an undisclosed sum.

Woodside chief Don Voelte has said it was an exciting opportunity for the company to be linked with one of Western Australia’s most high profile sporting teams.

“I wanted to share with you the rationale behind this sponsorship, which is a significantly more visible partnership than those which Woodside normally undertakes,” Mr Voelte said.

“Woodside holds a special place in the Australian oil and gas industry. In a sector crowded with all the major internationals, Woodside proudly holds its own.

“When it comes to oil and gas companies, Woodside flies the Australian flag like no other, and has done so for more than 50 years.

“Our Australian identity does not just make us feel good. It is an undeniable business advantage.

“Woodside has demonstrated an eagerness and a capacity to discover and develop Australian hydrocarbon resources above all others. For that reason we hold a special place in the eyes of Australian governments.

“With a collection of international oil and gas companies now seeking to join Woodside as operators of Australian liquefied natural gas projects we must, more than ever before, remind governments and communities what stands us apart from these IOCs. That is our Australian identity.

“We see support for Australian Rules football as one of the means by which we reinforce our Australian, and in particular our West Australian, identity.”

Mr Voelte said the sponsorship would remind people “we are a proudly Western Australian company with its head office in Perth and firmly enmeshed in the Western Australian community”.

He said staff may ponder why the company decided to support the Fremantle Dockers over the West Coast Eagles: “The simple answer is that a major sponsorship of Fremantle was available. A major sponsorship of West Coast was not,” Mr Voelte added.

“This sponsorship is being treated as a branding initiative and is not part of our community investment program. We will be funding this through a separate branding budget.

“We have a confidentiality agreement with the Dockers which prevents me from telling you the cost of this sponsorship, which runs for a minimum of three years.

“As we have only just concluded the agreement, we are not yet in a position to detail how employees can get involved in this sponsorship. But we will communicate those details to you in due course.

“No matter which football team – or football code – you support, I hope you get behind this great opportunity we have to enhance Woodside’s brand through the Fremantle Dockers.”

FootyGoss has attempted to contact the Fremantle Football Club, but is yet to get confirmation on the deal.

Stay tuned.