People


A non-profit incorporated association, the AFL Fans Association (AFLFA) is run by voluntary committee members who represent the interests of fellow football supporters.

Assisting the AFLFA committee are Patrons, Ambassadors, State Representatives, and an AFLW Representative. We also have a Webmaster and IT Officer and a Communications Consultant.

Patrons

Dr Susan Alberti AC :

Dr Susan Alberti AC

A passionate Western Bulldogs fan, Susan was in the Footscray Cheer Squad as a teenager and desperately wanted to play football. As a young girl, she had to settle for informal cheer squad games as there was nowhere for girls to play competition footy.

Susan has supported women’s football for many years and was a key driver behind the development of AFLW, which she continues to be involved in. She served four terms on the Western Bulldogs’ board and was Vice-President when the club won its historic second premiership in 2016.

A current Director of the Western Bulldogs Forever Foundation, Susan is a passionate advocate of the important role fans play in the fabric of AFL life.

Susan is one of Australia’s leading philanthropists. She has made a significant contribution to medical research, particularly Type 1 diabetes, and other charities over her successful business career.

Jason Ball :

Jason Ball

Jason Ball is a passionate LGBTIQ and mental health advocate, who after coming out in 2012 launched a change.org petition to challenge homophobia in the AFL. His campaign led to the screening of anti-homophobia messages on the big screen at AFL matches. Jason's story has been used in education programs created by the AFL and he consulted with the AFL Players Association in the development of a player-led social media campaign to challenge homophobic language in sport. In 2014 Jason led Victoria's Pride March flanked by his teammates from the Yarra Glen Football Club along with AFL players Daniel Jackson and Brock McLean. Jason's advocacy was the driving force behind the first AFL Pride Game played between St Kilda and Sydney in 2016.

Jason's leadership has seen him take up Ambassadorial roles with the Victorian Pride Centre, Safe Schools Coalition, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Human Rights Arts & Film Festival and Beyond Blue, and in 2017 he was named Young Australian of the Year for Victoria. He is the co-founder Pride Cup Australia, a non-profit organisation that works with all levels of sport to create pride activations and deliver education to increase LGBTIQ visibility and engagement. Jason comes from a long line of Collingwood supporters and has been a member of the club for 22 years, but he is also willing to back any club working to create a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTIQ players and fans.

Committee Members

Ron Issko : President

Ron Issko

President

president@aflfans.org.au

Ron has been a lifelong Tiger fan and it has become a family affair to attend games with his son, brother, cousin and nephew. Coaching has been Ron’s passion and has been involved in grass roots football with a junior football club for over 10 years as an Auskick co-ordinator, coach and member of the committee.

Professionally Ron is an Organisational Coach helping employees, teams, leaders and organisations achieve their goals and objectives.

Ron’s mission is to ensure that the greatest game in the world, Aussie Rules, maintains its uniqueness and is accessible and affordable to all fans in Australia.

Debbie Hall : Vice President & Disability & Diversity Fan Liaison Manager

Debbie Hall

Vice President & Disability & Diversity Fan Liaison Manager

vpresident@aflfans.org.au

Debbie Hall is a Learning Support and Engagement Officer working in primary, secondary and specialist schools, as well as TAFE colleges in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs. She works alongside children, adolescents and young adults with learning difficulties, behavioural challenges, emotional issues, and physical impairments.

Debbie is a lifelong Richmond supporter and in 2022 will clock up 45 consecutive years as a member! Dedicated to helping people with special needs, she has always been an advocate for those with little or no voice.

In 2016, representing the AFLFA, Debbie worked alongside Travellers Aid Australia and the MCC to facilitate the Buggy Project at the MCG. This initiative became a permanent feature and today provides mobility challenged fans with easier access to the MCG from the two surrounding railway stations and car parks in Yarra Park.

In 1982, Debbie successfully lobbied with her family and friends to pressure the then Victorian Football League to provide seating areas at all VFL grounds for people in wheelchairs. She is passionate about the AFL and bringing the game back to the fans in the outer.

Mark Costello : Secretary

Mark Costello

Secretary

secretary@aflfans.org.au

mark.costello@aflfans.org.au

Mark is the owner of  QuarterMaster Australia, working with his wife and sons, living in Sydney.

As an active person in the community, Mark has been a member of numerous organisations, including The Army Reserves and The SES and he has also coached many different childrens’ sports.  Mark has also been a member of the NSW Rural Fire Service as a Fire Fighter for over 30 years and an active member of the local RSL sub-Branch supporting Veterans.

Growing up in Sydney, Mark was a Rugby League fan for many years until his team the North Sydney Bears were dropped from the NRL Competition. Invited to attend an AFL match, he found AFL to be a more exciting fast-moving game and immediately became a fan. He was a Sydney Swans member for many years but switched to become a Giants Foundation Member when the team was formed.

Mark is actively involved with the Giants Cheer Squad as part of their leadership and represents the Giants on the AFL Cheer Squad League Committee. This has given him the opportunity to meet fellow Cheer Squad members of all AFL teams and enjoy the camaraderie and shared passion for the game.

As an AFL Fans Association Committee Member, Mark is keen to see the AFL game day experience be as accessible and enjoyable as possible. Continual evaluation of fans’ experiences and issues via the AFLFA can help the AFL make what is already a great game even greater.

 

Justin Leckie : Treasurer

Justin Leckie

Treasurer

justin.leckie@aflfans.org.au

Introduced to Australian Rules Football by his grandfather and father in the 1970s, Justin fell in love with the game and the Port Adelaide Football Club. He became a member of the club with his first pay cheque in 1986, is still a member and attends most home matches and away games.

Justin wants future generations of AFL supporters to enjoy the same benefits, access, and participation he had growing up. He firmly believes that financial pressures and ticketing equality for fans of competing clubs needs to be improved, whilst ensuring that the competition remains financially sustainable to prosper. While the AFL and clubs have been successful and engage their members, there are opportunities for better communication and emerging technology can be used to grow the game at all levels.

Justin wants to work collaboratively and positively with the AFL and its stakeholders and encourages all clubs to prosper, connect with each other in innovative ways and continue to contribute to our communities. He strongly supports the notion that an elected fan representative should at least be on the AFL Competition Committee soon and has a vision to have an elected fan representative on the AFL Commission itself to have fans’ voices heard in the future.

As a member of the AFL Fans Association Governing Committee, Justin is responsible for commercial activities including partnerships, sponsorships, grants, fundraising and social media content in addition to governance, business planning and risk management activities. If you have a concern with any aspect of the game, membership at your club or stadium, Justin would be pleased to help, no matter which state you reside in. He attends Port Adelaide home games at Adelaide Oval and sits near the Magarey Room in the Southern Stand mid-tier and tries to attend pre match functions organised by supporter groups at the London Tavern. Justin is also a regular at the Port Club, Alberton Oval, so feel free to introduce yourself to him and have a chat.

Personally, Justin is married to Fiona, an Adelaide Crows supporter, and lives in Adelaide. He played junior and senior football with the Modbury Football Club, which was established in 1862, and later with his cousins at the Greenacres Football Club. Justin still plays Aussie rules football in the AFL SA Masters over-35 competition with the Peninsula Football Club – the Mighty Masters Magpies – and is nicknamed Lecko (or Gekko) in his role as Treasurer. He prefers to travel the 22 kilometres to play in Ethelton in the traditional Port Adelaide heartland.

Professionally, Justin is a Certified Practising Accountant and has nearly 30 years’ experience in public administration, finance, and auditing. He also volunteers with local sporting organisations and previously with the disability sector as a board member. Justin is honoured to help the AFL Fans Association support, protect, and promote our great game.

Sheridan Verwey : Strategy & Engagement Manager

Sheridan Verwey

Strategy & Engagement Manager

sheridan.grants@aflfans.org.au

Sheridan Verwey is a sports fanatic whose greatest sporting love is AFL. As a first-generation Collingwood fan, she is eternally grateful to the parents of primary school friends who enabled her to experience the inner sanctum of Victoria Park. This sparked a real love for the game, and Sheridan now enjoys taking her own four young children along to matches. She is thankful there are no other AFL teams supported in her household (to date!).

Sheridan is passionate about making AFL accessible and affordable to fans of all ages and ensuring gambling advertising does not negatively impact anyone's enjoyment of the game.

Professionally, her career has focused on governance, risk, and change management roles. After a long career in banking, Sheridan is finding it much more rewarding working for not-for-profit organisations. She is also involved in the community service and early childhood sectors and is a netball coach

Sally Bennett : Committee Member

Sally Bennett

Committee Member

sally.bennett@aflfans.org.au

Sally Bennett had had the Red and Blue of the Melbourne Football Club coursing through her veins since she was a toddler (over 60 years ago), encouraged by her father to see that even when the Dees lost, there was always next week. She had attended several grand finals throughout the years and was always jealous that the Dees were not there until, of course, 2021, when they won the penultimate prize; not being able to attend has only fed her ongoing enthusiasm to see greater success for her club.

Her adult children, Alice and James, are as passionate, but it took her husband many years to see the light about the MFC until the threat of divorce made him see the error of his ways!

Attending home games at the ‘G’ is a family affair together with like-minded MFC or AFL friends. Great fun has been had attending games interstate, even when the Dees have lost. Going to the snow is never on her agenda!

Sally sees the AFL as a truly unique game to Australia and wants to see it continue to grow and thrive to the benefit of clubs, especially the fans, as they underpin everything. During the pandemic, it was obvious how much the fans were missed simply because there was no atmosphere; comments from players backed this up. She wants all fans to be able to continue to enjoy the game with passion, fun and respect for others.

Professionally, Sally has worked in various careers as a chef, small business operator, food buyer, trainer, compliance auditor and manager. Currently, Sally works in administration for a large university and assesses health care professionals for competency in literacy.

Christopher Hughes : Committee Member

Christopher Hughes

Committee Member

christopher.hughes@aflfans.org.au

Christopher works in HR consulting, focusing on executive search and stakeholder engagement.

A football tragic from an early age, Christopher has attended many memorable AFL moments, including multiple showdowns at Football Park, all of Eddie Betts' goal of the year nominations, and multiple AFLW premierships. Engaging with the community on a grassroots level, Christopher also has experience within SANFL juniors field umpiring.

Also working at Adelaide Oval on event days within the media centre and ushering, Christopher has a passion for customer experience, bringing many fan engagement points from Adelaide Oval to the forefront of the AFLFA.

As an AFL Fans Association Committee member (and Hawthorn fan), Christopher wants to ensure fans feel as though they are heard within the AFL and are satisfied with their match day experience.

Ambassador

Brett ‘Trout’ Beattie : Ambassador

Brett ‘Trout’ Beattie

Ambassador

One of nine kids who all followed Richmond until one sister married a Kangaroos member, Brett grew up in Farmer St, Burnley. He started attending Richmond games in the 1970s, first with his Dad and then his mates.

He and his wife Carmel married in the mid-1980s and have three kids – all proud Richmond members.

Brett has been in and out of the Richmond Cheer Squad for many years and is a 43year club member “and proud of it”. “I believe it’s our game, the fan’s and member’s game, the ones that roar and cheer, bringing the grounds alive each week,” he says. “I care about the direction our game is going, for the working-class fans and members. Our cheer squad members give up family time and this makes me proud about our club.”

Brett spends many hours supporting Richmond each season and in the summer plays cricket for Diggers Rest Cricket Club.

Information Technology

Larry Blode : Webmaster and IT Manager

Larry Blode

Webmaster and IT Manager

Larry is a St Kilda footy tragic and IT Geek. So it was a natural fit that he would want to volunteer his services to the AFLFA. Larry was introduced to St Kilda when his cousin and he would walk to the Linton Street Ground when they were 10 to watch the last quarter. There they would watch the likes of Cowboy Neil, Carl Dietrich and Ross Smith. Later, it was watching the mighty saints in their "golden era" of Tony Lockett, Nicki Winmar, Spud Frawley, Nick Riewoldt, Robert Harvey, just to name a few.

Larry’s mission with the AFLFA is to provide the best web experience by a volunteer association.

 

Paul Bugeja : Digital Producer

Paul Bugeja

Digital Producer

Paul Bugeja is a digital nomad and creative type, currently based in Sydney as a news producer for two major publications.

Paul sees himself as one of ‘those’ Hawks fans – diehard, lifelong, bleeds brown and gold…

AFLW Representative

Fearn Harrison : AFLW Representative

Fearn Harrison

AFLW Representative

Known as Fearny or Fearny Fearn to many, Fearn Harrison hails from the Mornington Peninsula and works as a team leader at her local Subway store. In 2021 she clocked up 16 years’ service.

Fearn is a Collingwood AFLW and VFLW official Number 1 supporter and was one of the first to sign up as a foundation member of Collingwood’s AFLW team. She has supported the Collingwood women’s team since Day 1, attends training sessions regularly during the AFLW season and tries to attend as many games as she can. Fearn witnessed the Magpies’ VFLW side win the 2019 premiership.

Fearn also loves supporting the entire AFLW competition, and attends as many games throughout the season as possible. Since 2017, she has been Steph Chiocci’s player sponsor.

Western Australian Representatives

Brad Stone : State Rep - West Australia

Brad Stone

State Rep - West Australia

Brad Stone is a former long-time employee of NAB of some 27 years, and of recent times has been the WA contact for NAB's AFL and Auskick partnerships. During this time Brad was responsible for NAB WA's local sponsorships with the WA Football Commission and the Hopman Cup, as well as their corporate relationship with both Fremantle and West Coast Football Clubs. He has also developed great relationships with some of WA's local media. Brad hopes to be able to use these contacts at all levels and be able to bring a true WA flavour to the AFL Fans Association.

Brad has been a life-long Hawthorn supporter ever since his mum won him a pair of Peter Knights' brown and gold puma footy boots in a charity fundraiser and to this day, he still has them. This created an ever growing passion for sporting memorabilia from all sports.

Brad is very excited to be a part of the AFL Fans Association.

Albie Fernandes : State Rep - West Australia

Albie Fernandes

State Rep - West Australia

Having arrived in Fremantle in 1975 as a refugee, Albie will be forever grateful to a young surfer in an EH panel van who would take him to all the South Freo games. He cut his teeth on the rules of the game on the banks of Fremantle Oval, the Bulldogs (South Freo), were his first footy love. Later that year, Albie became aware of the VFL when the grand final was telecast live and his passion for the mighty Hawks was born. Coincidently, he had picked the losing grand finalists in each competition!

Albie loves the game at all levels, without a healthy local competition there can be no AFL. His family are mainly Fremantle supporters, with a few Eagles and one sole Hawk, which adds to the banter at family events.

Albie is passionate about fans in WA getting a fair go and having access to modern facilities at a reasonable cost. He is not here to represent his own views, but rather canvas and represent the views of fans across the state. Fairness, equity and the access to enjoy this wonderful game of ours at a reasonable cost are paramount to Albie, but he is all ears to any other issues.

South Australian Representatives

Michael Isbell : State Rep - South Australia

Michael Isbell

State Rep - South Australia

Born into a Port Adelaide family along with being a member of the club since 2012 and the cheer squad since 2014, Michael very much believes the game belongs to the fans and without them going each and every week, there may not be a game to enjoy.

Michael would like to see people of all ages enjoy what the game has to offer without being priced out of going from ticket, food and drink prices, which he believes is of great concern.

Professionally, Michael has 7½ years in public service working in Adelaide’s public transport and more recently volunteering within Hospitality at an RSL and lawn bowls club.

Michael is very much honoured to work with the AFL Fans Association to support and promote the great game of ours, as well being available to all fans on any issue.

Eric Weltner : State Rep - South Australia

Eric Weltner

State Rep - South Australia

A passionate Port supporter, Eric has been a member of the Port Adelaide Football Club for every season since its inception into the AFL in 1997 and has also followed the club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) since the early 1970s.

While football has flourished in South Australia since the move of AFL games to Adelaide Oval, Eric is concerned this could be threatened by the high cost of daily tickets to AFL games. He is also unhappy about the "transaction fee" being charged for walk-up ticket purchases to Adelaide Oval. While members are the lifeblood of a club, he believes footy should be kept affordable for non-members as well. Eric would also like to see more tickets made available to competing club members at AFL Grand Finals, which he thinks he can be done by reducing allocations that he believes lead to virtual AFL-endorsed "scalping".

A football tragic, Eric also regularly attends SANFL games and understands the concerns many have of the impact of AFL reserves teams in suburban competitions.

Eric’s working life has been mainly in the printing/publishing industry in the pre-press field, but he has also dabbled in sports writing as a reporter of SANFL games for Messenger Newspapers from 2002-2011.

Queensland Representatives

Michelle Cubis : State Rep - Qld

Michelle Cubis

State Rep - Qld

Currently a Deputy Principal and member of the AFLQ Schools Advisory Board, Michelle has been a two-time premiership player and coach at both club and school levels, representing Queensland in 2006.

A proud Essendon supporter, Michelle even spent a number of years working for the Brisbane Lions during the glory days and phenomenal 3-peat era.

Michelle’s father was a player and coach for many years and is a fanatical Richmond supporter, so Australian Rules is in her DNA.

Michelle enjoys taking on the role of QLD representative for AFL Fans Association as she’s a truly passionate supporter who is committed to supporting this great game in any way she can.

John Hicks : State Rep - Qld

John Hicks

State Rep - Qld

John is a Business Manager in the Automotive Industry in Brisbane after having had a long career with NAB in Victoria. Moving to Brisbane 14 years ago with his wife and three children, John grew up following in his father’s footsteps as a Richmond supporter and has been a mad Tiger’s support ever since.

With a history of playing junior football in the Ballarat Football League, John soon realised he wasn’t good enough to go any further, so took up boundary umpiring. After umpiring 2 Ballarat League Grand Finals, John moved to Melbourne and umpired over 100 games with the then-VFL Reserve Grade umpires.

When his 2 sons started playing football, John got back involved at club level and also co-ordinated an Auskick centre.

When he moved to Brisbane, John became a founding member of the Queensland Richmond Supporters Group and have had 2 terms as President in that time, having only recently handed over the reins to a new President.

John enjoys being the Qld State Rep for the AFL Fans Association and keeping the Association up to date with what life is like as an AFL fan in a Rugby League State. John would love to see every Victorian based team play at least one game in SE Queensland every season, as there are many people like himself who have moved up here but still support their original team.

New South Wales Representative

Sandra : State Rep - NSW

Sandra

State Rep - NSW

Sandra is an avid fan of the Swans. Watching her first game in 1986 as an 11yr old, she quickly developed a passion for AFL. Growing up in Sydney, she is happy to see the continued development of AFL in NSW and the opportunities for local fans to participate at all levels of the game now. Long gone are the days of watching a replay of a game late at night or being asked “when did she move to Sydney?"

Sandra is concerned about levels of accessibility for fans to the game including access for those who are differently-abled and the increasing cost of attending games for the average fan. Coming from a non-traditional footy state, Sandra is also keenly interested in the experience of fans outside of Victoria.

Combining a passion for travel with football, she has attended every Swans home, away and finals game for the last 3 seasons with every intention of continuing.

ACT Representative

Gerry Eeman : Territory Rep - ACT

Gerry Eeman

Territory Rep - ACT

Gerry grew up in Canberra and Sydney and now spends his time between Canberra and Melbourne. He is a Sydney Swans tragic who fell in love with AFL after seeing the 1985 Grand Final.

Gerry is passionate about seeing the game grow into a truly national game and remaining accessible to fans. His pet hate, like many others, is going to the footy and seeing the best seats empty whilst grassroots fans pack out the upper tiers of the grandstands.

Professionally he has a corporate law background having practised at major Australian law firms and as an in-house commercial lawyer. He continues to play football for the Easybeats in the Renegade Pub Football League over the winter and in an AFL 9s team over the summer.

Gerry has previously been president of the AFL Fans Association from late 2014 to the end of 2020.

Tasmanian Representative

Aaron Robinson : State Rep - Tasmania

Aaron Robinson

State Rep - Tasmania

Aaron is a passionate North Melbourne fan who fell in love with the club in 2004 when he attended a North Melbourne vs Hawthorn match at the MCG, which North Melbourne won by 80 points.

Born and bred in Hobart, Aaron gets to every North Melbourne match at Blundstone Arena. Since 2012, he has only missed one match.

Aaron is the North Melbourne Tasmanian Supporters Group President. As part of his role, he organises trips to see the club play interstate and also dinners and functions for fans when North Melbourne are in town.

Aaron wants to make sure the AFL stays strong in Tasmania by making sure more seats are filled in the state's blockbuster matches.

Outside of AFL, Aaron is a manager at Coles. He enjoys spending time with family and friends. He is always up for a conversation with anyone and enjoys doing trips around the country

Northern Territory Representative

Jackson Clark : Territory Rep - Northern Territory

Jackson Clark

Territory Rep - Northern Territory

Jackson Clark was born and bred in Darwin, Northern Territory. He holds a Bachelor of Education qualification, but his background is in football reporting.

Clark has covered sports locally and nationally since the age of 13, featuring on television, radio and print. Over the past decade his large following on social media platforms – notably the Facebook page NT Football with Jackson Clark – has allowed enabled him opportunities in mainstream media. He produced and hosted the sports program ‘Balls ‘n’ All’ on Northern Territory radio station Mix 104.9.

In 2017, he founded the Kicking the Stigma project to raise awareness around mental health at football clubs. In the process he became the first person to play one game of football in each state or territory in consecutive weeks.

He has played almost 300 games of local senior football, including a season in the VFL with the Bendigo Football Club.