Crows, Power to shed light on membership plans as players return to training before flying to Gold Coast isolation hub
Adelaide and Port Adelaide ticket holders will get greater clarity about their membership options this week – and whether they can seek refunds. It comes as both teams plan a return to training on Monday.
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Adelaide and Port Adelaide ticket holders will finally receive some clarity about their memberships in a year where they are unlikely to attend a game.
When fans were banned from Round 1, and then the season was put on ice because of COVID-19, Crows and Power members were told they would be provided with details about whether they would be in line for refunds, if requested quickly.
Three months later, the two SA-based AFL clubs are yet to reveal their membership plans to fans, while their payment plans have continued – despite it being increasingly unlikely spectators will be able to watch games in person this season.
Both clubs have said this is because they have not had any clarity on what the 2020 season would look like.
But after the AFL announced the season would resume on June 11 – with the Crows and Power based in a hub on the Gold Coast to facilitate this after they were refused a SA quarantine exemption – the two clubs are set to this week reveal to fans their strategy for their memberships.
Adelaide last month launched a ‘Stand With Us’ campaign – fronted by the club’s past men and women’s captains – urging members to stay with the Crows in 2020.
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Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan in a note to members over the weekend stated that maintaining their membership was “the best way to ensure we get through this is a manner where we can continue to control our own destiny, and pursue the type of success that we all crave”.
“Having been provided with at least some clarity on what the season looks like, we are now in a position to provide you with further details on your membership,” he wrote.
“Over the next week or so you will receive communication regarding the Stand With Us membership campaign, as well as other information regarding membership options available to you.”
Power chief executive Keith Thomas said Port Adelaide, who have launched its #nevertearusaparthub for fans, would also be updating fans this week with “some exciting new member initiatives”.
In March, the AFL Fans Association said supporters “at the very least” should be offered a partial refund on already purchased memberships if games are played behind closed doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Friday, AFLFA president Gerry Eeman said fans had shown great loyalty during the footy shutdown.
“Many club members have effectively treated this year’s membership fees as a donation to their club, which shows the passion many have for their clubs regardless of whether they can attend games,” he said.
“Those members who are in a less financially secure position should, however, be provided with a refund should they seek it.”
Meanwhile, West Coast, the richest club in the AFL, revealed four options for its members.
They are:
Pledge – donate a portion or all of the membership fee towards the club,
Credit – receive credit towards a 2021 membership renewal,
Pause – downgrade a match access membership to a home supporter one, and
Cancel – for a $35 fee.
Still hope of Showdown in Adelaide
Meanwhile, Adelaide and Port Adelaide players return to official training on Monday, but just what the next six-eight weeks of their lives is going to look like is still being worked out.
After the AFL’s announcement of the 2020 season restart on Friday, Crows and Power players can finally return to West Lakes and Alberton to train for the first time since March – in limited sessions at the two training grounds.
Last week the players of the two SA clubs undertook tests for COVID-19 at the two training bases, which have been deemed ‘quarantine hubs’.
But ahead of the June 11 restart date, AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has allowed clubs to begin non-contact training in groups up to eight from Monday and then two full scale contact sessions from May 25.
The Crows and Power are relocating to the Gold Coast into a hub so they can conduct this much-needed contact training ahead of the resumption, after SA Health authorities said this wouldn’t be allowed in South Australia until June 8.
The AFL, Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast and Fremantle – who also have to enter into a hub, but will fly to Queensland at a later date – were still working through what the players will be allowed to do when they enter the luxury resorts.
Crows and Power players face being put up in a luxury hotel with a golf course – the Mercure Resort – without being able to play golf, despite Queensland easing social distancing restrictions.
But there is hope that an agreement will be worked out where the players won’t be in a full lockdown situation at the resort.
Likewise, what players’ families can or cannot do should they also enter the hub is to be finalised.
On Friday, Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan said the players were planning on initially travelling as a group to the Gold Coast for the training period, with families to possibly fly to Queensland after that.
The AFL said this would all be worked out before the teams enter the hub, with Port and the Crows set to fly to the Gold Coast either on May 24 or May 25.
The clubs are also waiting on the rescheduled fixture from the AFL.
AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld said it was likely the Crows and Power would have to play a “home game” at either the Gabba or Metricon Stadium.
But he offered a slight glimmer of hope that the Showdown in 2020 was not completely lost to Adelaide, despite the Crows and Power conceding it is likely to be played up north.
“They (the Crows, Power, Eagles, Dockers, Brisbane and Gold Coast) will play each other, so those clubs don’t have to travel outside of Queensland,” he said.
“We will continue to assess the environment, and if things change we can adapt.
“If we can, we will avoid the Derby and the Showdown in that first four-week period and hold it off to the back end of the season if we can achieve that.
“But, I’m not that sure at the moment.”
Originally published as Crows, Power to shed light on membership plans as players return to training before flying to Gold Coast isolation hub
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