The West Coast Eagles take great pride in their raft of community programs and they are starting to be widely recognised.

AFL Commissioner Richard Goyder, a guest at the season launch at Crown on Tuesday morning, made special mention of the West Coast’s community programs during an on-stage interview with MC Mark Readings.

Mr Goyder AO, Managing Director of Wesfarmers, gave an engaging insight into the broad picture for Australian football, and was glowing in his tribute of the club’s community programs – including acclamation of Beau Waters’ success in the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award last year.       

“I think the Eagles are actually a standout,” Goyder said.

“I think the Jim Stynes award to Beau Waters was significant as well.

“I think the work that BHP Billiton is doing with the ‘Eagles in the Community’ (programs), and the Eagles’ other supporters is first class.

“The Reconciliation Action Plan that the Eagles now has in place is leading as well.

“So I think the Eagles is an absolute leader in this field.”

Goyder also noted the sensational work Nic Naitanui does in the community around his busy football schedule, citing the Eagles ruckman’s interactions with his own nephew Archie during his battle with cancer.

“Janine and I have a young nephew, Archie, who’s had this awful cancer Neuroblastoma,” he said.

“But one of the things that gave him the biggest lift through that period at Princess Margaret Hospital was the visits he had from Nic Naitanui and the ongoing follow-up.

“So Nic wasn’t doing it just to tick the box for doing hours, Nic’s actually followed Archie and been a great supporter of him.

“That’s where football clubs are doing great things in the community that aren’t really known as well.”