Essendon Football Club is proud to announce an official alignment with the Van Diemen Dons.
The Tasmanian based group’s inaugural President will be former state Premier Lara Giddings, who was in office between January 2011 and March 2014.
Ms Giddings said the Van Diemen Dons would aim to further raise the profile of the Club throughout the state.
“Essendon has been a pioneer in taking its brand beyond its immediate municipality,” Ms Giddings said.
“The Club enjoys tremendous support right across the country and particularly here in Tasmania.
“There are obviously logistical difficulties with being an interstate supporter, but in today’s world you should feel no less engaged.
“By providing a place for all Tasmanian based Bombers fans to come together we hope to build networks, camaraderie and showcase our support for the Club.”
The Van Diemen Dons will hold regular events throughout the year, including game day functions.
There will also be the opportunity to attend marquee Essendon events including the Season Launch and Crichton Medal.
Essendon Chief Executive Officer Xavier Campbell said the formation of the Van Diemen Dons is an exciting initiative.
“We’ve had a long partnership with Tasmania through our relationship with a number of supporter groups and we’re proud to build upon that,” Campbell said.
“The support we receive outside Victoria is never lost on us and we’re proud the hard work of our loyal Tasmanian fan base has now grown into an official coterie.
“This initiative is part of our broader objective to build on our level of engagement with national support groups.
“We’re excited to work closely with the Van Diemen Dons to harness our existing support and also expand the fan base across the state.”
