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The COVID-19 crisis has brought the importance of fans to professional sport into sharp relief. Fans are central to the prosperity, sustainability and survival of the elite level of Australian Rules as we know it. But the virus has shown the degree to which the Australian Football League (AFL) has […]

Footy is back but times have changed

By Rev Tim Costello, Chief Advocate, Alliance for Gambling Reform Like most Victorians I am delighted the AFL returns to our screens this week. It’s our game and it has been missed by millions of fans of all ages.  What I am not looking forward to is the association between […]

Gambling Ads return along with the Footy

*This is article first appeared in the Herald Sun on 9th June 2020. by Cheryl Critchley. Vice President of AFL Fans Association It's time for AFL clubs to put their loyal members first. If they are tempted to allow corporate guests into games ahead of dedicated members and cheer squad […]

Loyal Fans should be rewarded

AFL Fans Association committee member, Ron Issko, was interviewed by the Herald Sun regarding his membership of the AFL. He was not thrilled with the $170 to be paid for retaining his benefits as a member of the AFL, despite the lack of footy and opportunities for attending games.

How much for retaining a membership?

Fans acknowledge AFL challenges in re-starting the 2020 season AFL FANS ASSOCIATION (AFLFA): “GIVING FOOTY FANS A VOICE”Most AFL fans are welcoming the decision to move ahead with the 2020 season after a very difficult couple of months for the AFL and its clubs. The AFL Fans Association acknowledges the […]

Press Release – Season Re-start

"Footy without a crowd doesn't ring true, just as winter without footy doesn't feel the same. With each passing week of lockdown, we could match it with a corresponding round. How different the rhythm of the week feels without the rising hope and expectation about how teams will fare on […]

Passion keeps the game alive

**John Hennessy, a former corporate planner of the AFL, outlines an opportunity for the AFL. By any measure the AFL is one of the most successful sporting competitions on the planet. In terms of average match attendances it ranks only behind the NFL, BundesLeague and the Premier League. The current […]

Coronavirus: an opportunity for the AFL?

*This piece is by Debby Palti, a member of the AFL Fans Association committee. The piece was first published on her blog, here. The opinions expressed are her own personal views. Return the Game to the Fans The Covid19 has thrown not only a spanner in the works of the […]

Return the Game to the Fans

I went to the footy on Thursday night. I left my house, turned right and walked towards the light towers. There were no other pedestrians about. There was no queue at the traffic lights in front of the bicycle shop. I didn’t see anyone parking their car urgently and with […]

Footy without a Crowd

AFLFA supports health authorities’ actions on coronavirus AFL FANS ASSOCIATION (AFLFA): “GIVING FOOTY FANS A VOICE”The AFL Fans Association supports actions by health authorities in preventing the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).  AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said yesterday that the AFL would play games without crowds if government authorities banned […]

Response to Coronavirus

The Australian Football League believes that gambling is a normal, regular and vital part of professional sport. It's a growth industry! (See this report from the Australian Gambling Research Centre) In a recent article in The Age (28th January 2020), Jon Pierik writes that the deal between the Australian Football […]

Advocating Gambling

The Australian Intercultural Society recently held a discussion on 'Diversity' in the Australian Football League (27th February 2020). The discussion was moderated by Lauren Wood of the Herald Sun and featured Isabel Huntington of the Western Bulldogs, Ameet Bains (CEO, Western Bulldogs) and Brendon Gale (CEO, RFC). The Australian Football […]

Beyond the Boundary