AFL Fan’s Association shares wishlist to league ahead of annual spectator survey
Scrap the pre-finals bye, opening round and make the AFLW season longer — these are some of the changes footy fans want to see to our great game.
Victoria
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Footy fans from all walks of life have urged the AFL to go back to the future on fixturing, expand the women’s game and give a greater share of grand final tickets to competing club members.
The AFL Fan’s Association will on Monday launch its annual survey of spectators, garnering views from the outer on everything from ticket and food price affordability to umpiring, rule changes and the possible return of State of Origin.
The Herald Sun showed the survey to celebrity fans of our great game, who shared their views on what the AFL was doing right and wrong.
High on the list of changes they wanted was scrapping the bye between the last round of the home and away season and finals, making the AFLW season longer and better pay for female footballers.
Eliminating the AFL’s contentious new “opening round’’ that starts the season in the northern states with no footy in Victoria also figured prominently.
Fans Association president Ron Issko said footy faithful wanted a bigger share of grand final tickets, consistent umpiring and were “angry” free to air matches had been removed on Saturday nights.
“Fans are passionate about consistency and you hear groans in the stands when a free kick is paid one way and it’s not paid 10 seconds later,’’ he said.
Comedian and Carlton tragic Dave Hughes said fans were fed up with opening round and the pre-finals bye.
“Opening round is just ridiculous – they should get rid of that,’’ he said.
“That first round where there are only like four games, that’s just a disaster in my opinion. I would get rid of that straight away.
“I just want the full round – every team should play in the opening round.’’
Female footy pioneer, businesswoman and philanthropist Susan Alberti said the new age opening round was “just crazy’’.
“I guess it’s a financial thing the AFL has chosen to do but I don’t think the average Joe Blow supporter appreciates it,’’ she said.
“We need to remember if we don’t have supporters and we don’t have members then we don’t have a bloody game.’’
Ms Alberti said the AFL risked losing female talent to other sports – including NRLW – unless it put them on a grander stage and “absolutely” wanted the women’s season aligned with the men’s, to allow double headers
“We need to be smarter to make sure we do give the exposure to our women and if the NRL are (aligning men’s and women’s season’s) and getting great success then we are fools if we don’t do that,’’ she said.
“We are letting our women down, our great women who are coming through the ranks.’’
Mr Issko said NSW and Queensland fans were happy with opening round “but it sort of leaves the Victorian fans feeling confused’’.
Rather than increasing the share of grand final tickets for competing club members sporadically, Mr Issko said: “Let’s go straight to 20,000, let’s not muck around.
“And they can do it.’’
Collingwood supporter Sheridan Verwey said: “It’s time to hear from the fans.
“This is your chance to shape the future of the game we love.’’
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