AFL FANS ASSOCIATION (AFLFA): “GIVING FOOTY FANS A VOICE”
Clubs helping fans in tough times and the MCG buggy service are big hits in the AFL Fans Association mid-season ‘hits and misses’. But the AFLFA has taken aim at violent fans, abusive trolls, inconsistent umpiring, confusion over fan evictions, lack of ticketing transparency and controversial rule changes.
HITS
- AFLW skill levels continue to increase and the competition is inspiring record numbers of females to play footy. A record 53,034 packed Adelaide Oval watch Adelaide beat Carlton in the Grand Final.
- AFLW games at old suburban grounds such as Norwood Oval, Victoria Park, Whitten Oval, Fremantle Oval and Ikon Park.
- More close games – the closeness of the competition has increased some fans’ interest.
- Sunday Funday continues at most AFL grounds, with free kids’ entry and family activities.
- The Front Bar and Marngrook continue to be popular with discerning footy fans.
- Clubs helping fans in tough times, such as Collingwood treating terminally ill fan Kyron McGuire to the match-day experience of a lifetime.
- Sir Doug Nicholls Round promotes indigenous issues and the need to stamp out racism.
- Some clubs are offering cheap ticket deals on social media. For example, North Melbourne and the Bulldogs have offered $15 adult general admission tickets.
- MCG and Marvel Stadium food deals continue. Marvel has kids meal deals and the MCG charges just $4.50 for pies and hot chips.
- Nine VFL curtain raisers were scheduled before AFL games this season.
- The MCG buggy service for mobility impaired patrons, which the AFL Fans Association helped instigate, has gone from strength to strength.
MISSES
- The evictions for umpire abuse of a Richmond fan banned from the cheer squad for three weeks, and a Carlton fan from Marvel Stadium, have supporters worried about what they can and can’t say at games.
- Gambling advertising is all pervasive and fans don’t like its influence on kids.
- A worrying number of fan violence incidents have occurred this year.
- Social media trolls abusing players such as Tayla Harris and Liam Ryan are a big problem.
- Less transparency – the AFL has removed its ticket price guide from its website. Some clubs don’t have guides on their websites, which makes it hard for fans to compare prices across games.
- Ticket prices at Perth Stadium West Coast games and all Adelaide Oval games are very expensive.
- Some clubs are using dynamic pricing to increase reserved seat prices for low crowd games.
- Food is particularly expensive in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney.
- The loud volume of music and announcements at footy grounds can be very annoying.
- Moving LED ads during play can be distracting for fans.
- Inconsistent match review and tribunal decisions have annoyed many fans.
- The AFL pouring money into AFLX despite the ambivalence of most fans.
- While individual umpires do a great job, changes to rule interpretations have seen some fans become increasingly frustrated with inconsistent decisions, particularly holding the ball.
- AFL rule changes such as 6-6-6 have so far failed to achieve their aim of higher scores.
- The Footy Show.
More information: AFLFA president Gerry Eeman on 0403 938 484. Email: president@aflfans.org.au or media@aflfans.org.au.