The Essendon playing list has pledged its support for the club’s new High Performance Centre at Melbourne Airport by getting ‘ON BOARD’ and making a donation towards the Flight Plan fundraising initiative.
 
Watch Jobe Watson's press conference here on Bomber TV ?
 
The players, led by captain Jobe Watson, have donated a percentage of their wages to the Flight Plan campaign, in an effort to help raise the necessary funds required to deliver the project on time, on budget and debt free.
 
Essendon captain Jobe Watson said it was important for the playing list to be involved in funding the future of the club.
 
“As a playing group, we understand the significance of this project towards our future as players and as a football club,” Watson said.
 
“If we don’t raise the money we need, the club will be forced to take on a level of debt that could impact our football department spending.”
 
“We believe this is an important show of faith by the players in the direction of the club and hope that our supporters will join us by getting ‘ON BOARD’ the Flight Plan this week.”
 
The Bombers Round 11 clash with the Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium has been themed the Flight Plan game, with the club calling on its supporters to get ‘ON BOARD’ and make a donation.
 
As a part of the Flight Plan game, and in conjunction with broadcaster Channel 7 and Etihad Stadium, the club will hold a special telethon during the match to rally supporters to get behind the fundraising initiative.
 
Manning the phones will be past players, premiership captains, current day players and a number of the club’s high profile supporters including musician Bryan Mannix.
 
“We’re calling on the red and black army to dig deep, pick up the phone and make a donation – it doesn’t matter how big or small the donation is because it all counts,” Watson said.
 
Launched in August 2011, the Flight Plan has raised nearly $700,000 towards the new High Performance Centre but is still well short of the $3 million fundraising target set for members and supporters.
 
To date, with the support of the Federal Government, AFL, Melbourne Airport, private benefactors, Coterie groups and the State Government, the club has raised almost $18 million of the overall $25 million project cost.
 
Supporters can donate to the Flight Plan in three ways.
1. Call 1300 GO BOMBERS
2. Send an SMS to 0447249387 with your full name and postcode and the club will call you back
 
All donors that have pledged their support to the Flight Plan up until the final siren against the Swans will go into the draw to win the ultimate Essendon inner sanctum experience. The prize is a trip for two to Essendon’s Round 19 match against the Crows in Adelaide including flights, accommodation, premium-reserved seats at the game and exclusive access into the players’ change rooms post match.