AFL MEMBERS ARE ANGRY - AND ORGANISED!

2500 Members express their support for new association in little over a week

Tuesday September 4, 2001

Media Statement 1/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ian Pike, AFLMA Media Spokesman: 0409 184 913

An Association that seeks to promote the interests of AFL Members has been
formed in response to members' concerns about how the AFL is looking after
membership entitlements.

"For years the AFL has steadily eaten away at our benefits", said Mr Ian
Pike, AFL Members Association (AFLMA) Media Spokesman.
Unlike members of the MCC, AFL Clubs, and other similar bodies, the 52,000
AFL Members have no voice or representation on its governing body, no
voting rights, no AGM and no formal means of airing grievances.
"Individual attempts to bring up concerns to the AFL Commission and
Membership department have got us nowhere", said Mr Pike, "AFL Members are
angry, but now we're getting organized."

This year - for the second year running - thousands of AFL Full Members
will miss out on a Grand Final ticket. This is despite Grand Final entry
being marketed for years as the key benefit of taking out AFL Membership.

AFL Members are particularly concerned about this years' telephone ballot
for Grand Final tickets. "Full Members pay $136 a year more than
Restricted Membership" said Mr Pike, "but all this entitles members to is
to take a punt in a raffle where the AFL won't even reveal the total number
of Grand Final seats they've made available".

The AFLMA links the locking out of thousands of AFL Members on Grand Final
day to Wayne Jackson's decision last year to grant the Colonial Stadium
Medallion Club guaranteed seating in the AFL Members Reserve. "Up to 5000
seats in the Members Reserve have disappeared to ordinary Full Members,"
said Mr Pike. "Many had to wait for up to 15 years on the restricted list
to receive this privilege."

The AFLMA has been formed following an overwhelming response to recent
talkback radio coverage of these issues. Membership is free, and open to
any financial AFL Member (full, restricted or absentee).

"In the last week alone we've been contacted by well over 2500 disgruntled
AFL Members", said Mr Pike, who has had to take several days off work just
to field the calls. "The AFL can ignore its members no longer. We've have
had enough of the AFL's lack of accountability and transparency when
decisions are made which affect us all."

The AFLMA is undeterred if it initially meets a frosty reception from Wayne
Jackson. Ian Pike points to the AFL Players Association: "Not too long
ago, the AFL didn't want to give the time of day to the Players
Association, yet now they are an integral part of football. Like the
Players Association does for its players, the AFLMA will provide AFL
Members with a unified voice through which to express their concerns and
interests."

For further information, contact:

Ian Pike, AFLMA Media Spokesman: 0409 184 913

Internet: http://www.aflma.com

or AFLMA-News-subscribe@yahoogroups.com