Massive junior footy fees are putting the squeeze on Victorian families

Junior footy registration fees are costing Victorian parents up to $550 a year — and where you live can play a big part in how much you have to pay to get your kids onto the footy field.

The under-10 Wyndham Suns have the cheapest football rego costs in Melbourne ($100). Picture: Jason Edwards

Parents are forking out up to $550 just to register their kids to play footy in Victoria.

And where you live is likely to dictate how much it costs.

A Herald Sun analysis of junior footy fees found Wyndham Suns Football Club in Tarneit had the cheapest rego costs in Melbourne — $100 plus a $12 league levy.

But mums and dads sending their kids out to play for Strathmore footy club are shelling out $550 for a family membership, no matter how many children they have.

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It costs $450 to register your child to play for East Keilor in the Essendon and District league.

And to play for neighbouring Aberfeldie, $207.80 registration must be paid on top of a $269.10 sports club fee.

There is also a city-country divide when it comes to football registration fees with junior costs just $75 at Lorne, $90 to play for Morwell — including socks and shorts — and $120 in Colac which also throws in a free mouth guard.

AFL Victoria spokeswoman Reyyan Atmaca said it was up to clubs to decide the cost of junior registration.

“They are their own individual business, so they can determine what the best rate is for their members,’’ she said.

“AFL Victoria charges insurance costs and then it’s up to the club to determine their registration fees beyond that.’’

Kaitlyn Bentley, 9, Jack Owen, 8 and Noah Beacham, 7, and friends. The under-10 Wyndham Suns have the cheapest football rego costs in Melbourne ($100). Picture: Jason Edwards

But while some Western Region Football League clubs charge $250, Wyndham Suns junior co-ordinator Lisa Gaylor said it kept costs as low as possible in a bid to attract more families.

“We really want to increase our junior base so we thought if we kept our fees low and raised more money from fundraising we might attract more players,’’ she said.

“It is working this year, we’ve probably increased our juniors by about 20 kids compared to last year.

“The parents are really supportive … we thought if we could keep the fees lower we could some more families and we have.’’

Some clubs are thinking outside the square to get more children signed up, such as Coldstream, Croydon and Mitcham which offer free Eastern League rego for first year players.

Almost every club surveyed offered discounts for multiple siblings signing up together, some offer early bird sign up discounts but others increase the cost of players joining for the first time.

It was not clear why clubs charged different rates or how extra funds were used.

WHAT IT COSTS TO PLAY FOOTY

East Keilor — $450

Aberfeldie — $207.80 + $269.10 sports club fee per family

Strathmore — $550 (flat fee for one or more children and includes raffle tickets that can be on-sold)

Donvale — $255

Noble Park — $160

Mitcham — $195 (new players free)

Coldstream — $205 (new players free)

Croydon — $220 (new players free)

Wyndham Suns — $112.50

Caroline Springs — $330

Laurimar — $265

Thomastown — $180

Heidelberg — $225

Glen Iris — $340

Colac — $120

Bunyip — $125

Morwell — $90

Frankston Dolphins — $230

Wodonga — $160

Albury — $130

Lorne — $75

Anglesea — $180

REGISTRATION AND LEAGUE FEES FOR ONE CHILD TO PLAY FOOTBALL. FIGURES ARE BASED ON A BOY PLAYING IN UNDER 11 OR 12

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