AFL BANS ITS OWN MEMBERS ASSOCIATION FROM MCG CONCOURSE!

Monday September 10, 2001

Media Statement 2/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

ALFMA Banned from Concourse at the MCG

Not only have the AFL banned internet media coverage but also the
democratic art of leaflet distribution.

Despite assurances from the AFL's Membership Manager Shaun Welch that the
AFL genuinely wants a constructive relationship with the new AFL Members
Association, a volunteer from the AFLMA was prevented from handing out
leaflets outside the entrance to the AFL Members Reserve on Saturday.

"The AFL won't allow us access to their membership list, so all we're
trying to do is get in touch with as many members as possible", said ALFMA
media spokesman Ian Pike.

The leaflets simply stated "AFL Members Are We Getting a Good Deal?" and
gave contact details for the association (ianp@aflma.com). "This is
hardly inflammatory stuff", said Mr Pike.

On pointing out that he was standing on Crown Land and had every right to
hand out flyers, the volunteer was told that the MCC and AFL had control of
this area and the direction for him to move had come from Jill Lindsay, AFL
Ground Operations Manager.

The attendant from the MCC was very apologetic, but said that while he
agreed AFL members were getting a very bad deal and the Members Association
was a "good move", the leafleteer should move. Not wishing to make a scene
he did move to the bottom of the steps near the "ugly sculpture" where
flyer distribution continued undisturbed. "After distrubuting flyers at
several games during round 22 and the first week of the finals so far we've
got contact details of over 3000 members who want a better deal from the
AFL", said Mr Pike.

The AFLMA intends to clarify the situation with the City Council and MCC in
time for next week's game. "One way or another, the leafleting will go on",
said Mr Pike, "After years of neglecting members' concerns, the genie's out
of the bottle for the AFL now."