They are still close to last years membership figure, it would be interesting to know what the standard non renewal rate is for club memberships.

Cats missing 5000 members from last season

more than 1000 behind last year's record

The Cats were yesterday stranded on 39,000 members

but still expects to pass last year's total to post a new club membership record.

Did this guys editor actually read this before going to print? Hell, did the guy who wrote it even read it?

Three game memberships are a good idea and is something the A-league should consider mid season.

Short term memberships seem a little pointless. If you're not willing to sign up at the start of the season you're probably not willing to sign up part-way through the season.

They're not aimed at that though, they're aimed at people who can only make certain games. So you'll sign up at the start of the season, but might be going away for 2 months, or whatever.

Plus in AFL, it seems Memberships are more than just Season Tickets, it's actually bought to support the club, as well as being considered a ticket to matches. Hence why so many options are offered, but all count under one membership tally.

MV offer a country membership, for people that live more than 100kms from Melbourne, I know several people that have purchased those as they can't make all the games but can attend 4 or 5.

Preparing for free agency

Jon Pierik
June 19, 2011

WHILE the here-and-now issues dominate the daily grind of life within an AFL club, backroom staff are turning their attention towards life after the 2012 season.

That, of course, is when free agency begins. The AFL and AFL Players Association last year agreed to introduce the new system to allow long-serving players or those who have been delisted to switch clubs with greater ease.

In the historic deal, players ranked in the club's top 25 per cent - essentially its top 10 - who have been with the one club and are out of contract for the first time since completing eight seasons will become ''restricted'' free agents, meaning they can seek offers from rival clubs but their current clubs can match that offer.

However, the bottom 30 players who have been with the one club and are out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons will be ''unrestricted'' free agents. They, too, can seek rival offers but their current club does not have the right to match the offer, allowing them to shift with greater ease.

A player who has spent 10 or more seasons at the one club, and has come out of contract at least once after spending eight years with the club, can also automatically move to a new club.

For those delisted, it will mean they can deal directly with an interested club without the uncertainty of going in the draft.

Those clubs that lose players who haven't been delisted will be compensated with a draft pick from a central pool - not from the player's former club - as long as they have not secured a player of equivalent worth.

Players with eight years' experience - many of whom will be aged 26 - should be at the peak of their physical powers.

Therefore, there is much to gain for clubs should a key player be willing to move.

Clubs, naturally, are already compiling lists of players who will fall into the above categories. For some, it will be a chance to find that missing piece for a flag. For others, it could be an opportunity to hasten a rebuild.

While clubs can plot as much as they like, they know several criteria will come into play to lure a major star.

Former North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley, now an assistant at Port Adelaide, says two areas of interest are starting to emerge among players.

Where the chance to train in first-class facilities had been an attractive option for players, all clubs have now improved in this area.

The Western Bulldogs and Kangaroos, often bracketed in the financially embattled category, now boast some of the best training facilities of any side. Indeed, they have even gone past a traditionally strong Essendon, busy finalising its plans for new headquarters.

''I think now with all the clubs, everyone has got a facility … it's actually gone past that,'' Laidley says.

Rather, says Laidley, clubs will have to pay most, if not all, of the salary cap. This would indicate they are serious about pushing for a premiership.

Secondly, and somewhat surprisingly, providing strategic financial and business advice for players has also emerged as a key bargaining chip. Gone, it appears, are the days of players squandering their cash.

The AFLPA helps players prepare for life after football with its educational programs. Clubs, particularly their board members who have a strong business background, are also coveted for advice and contacts in preparing for post-retirement.

''It's what they can pay [under the salary cap], how can the club help that player invest, how can he make his money work, what contacts, what business contacts have clubs got,'' Laidley says.

''That's where the bigger clubs with bigger support and people there to help is also enticing for a player. The money the players earn is going to keep increasing over the next few years with the new collective bargaining [agreement].''

These business opportunities, however, will presumably mean greater scrutiny will be required by AFL investigators to non-salary cap payments.

Two player managers who The Sunday Age spoke to admitted that prospering in life after football was now a major consideration for players, with business opportunities and investment initiatives integral to this.

''Most players are now earning good money. They want to make sure they build on that,'' said one agent. ''The clubs that can help in this regard and offer good contacts and advice will be looked upon favourably.''

Essendon chief executive Ian Robson said all clubs were now firmly focused on preparing for free agency. The Bombers, for instance, are keen for their new training headquarters near Melbourne Airport to be built as quickly as possible, ideally by the start of 2013, to ensure they have facilities as good, if not better, than any of their rivals so they can attract - and retain - talent.

Robson said there would be some players attracted ''by an open chequebook'' but felt most would consider several options when contemplating a change of club.

''I think the reality is it's more likely to be a combination of factors,'' he said. ''One might be the stability politically and economically of a club, it might be the quality of the infrastructure, the quality of the medical services and training and support staff, the quality of the coaching group, the quality of employment opportunities through the business networks of the club.

''There are a whole range of factors that may well be assessed by somebody when thinking, 'I have served one club very, very well, is there an opportunity to still pursue football success but also at the same time make some decisions that might help me position myself better for life after football but also because of medical services, infrastructure and other things, actually keep me in football longer?' ''

Nathan Buckley, the soon-to-be Collingwood coach, says that players now have a greater appreciation of their worth. It appears that free agency will intensify and highlight this feeling.

FREE AND CLEARED
Names of all players eligible to be "restricted free agents" will be released before the start of each season.

The top 25 per cent, effectively the top 10 at each club, coming out of contract at the end of 2012 and who have spent at least eight seasons with that club will be declared "restricted" free agents. They can take offers from rival clubs, but their current club can match the offer, in which case the player may stay, request a trade or nominate for the draft. Original club gets a compensation pick.

Out-of-contract players outside the top 10 will be "unrestricted free agents", allowing them to move automatically to club of choice. Original club receives compensation pick.

Players with 10 years' service are unrestricted free agents and can change clubs.

Delisted players are deemed free agents. They can deal directly with rival clubs and avoid drafts.

Compensation will be similar to that received by clubs that lost players to the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney this year and next. Clubs that sign a free agent will not give up a draft pick. That pick will come from a central pool, with the AFL determining the value of the player using criteria such as age, contract offer and player achievements.

Players who would have spent at least eight years with their club after the 2012 season
ADELAIDE: Nathan van Berlo, Scott Thompson, Chris Knights
BRISBANE: Josh Drummond, Jed Adcock, Daniel Merrett
CARLTON: Jarrad Waite, Eddie Betts, Andrew Walker
COLLINGWOOD: Nick Maxwell, Travis Cloke, Heath Shaw
ESSENDON: Jobe Watson, David Hille, Angus Monfries
FREMANTLE: Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Michael Johnson
GEELONG: Jimmy Bartel, Steve Johnson, James Kelly
HAWTHORN: Luke Hodge, Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead
MELBOURNE: Aaron Davey, Brent Moloney, Colin Sylvia
NORTH MELBOURNE: Daniel Wells, Hamish McIntosh, Michael Firrito
PORT ADELAIDE: Danyle Pearce, Brett Ebert, Domenic Cassisi,
RICHMOND: Brett Deledio, Daniel Jackson, Nathan Foley
ST KILDA: Nick Riewoldt, Brendon Goddard, Sam Fisher
SYDNEY: Jarrad McVeigh, Paul Bevan, Nick Malceski
WEST COAST: Matt Rosa, Mark LeCras, Adam Selwood
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Matthew Boyd, Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/preparing-for-free-agency-20110618-1g91w.html#ixzz1Phg10a00

Man knocked unconscious during all-in brawl at footy match in Portland

Shannon Deery From: Herald Sun June 20, 2011

POLICE are investigating a serious assault after a spectator was knocked unconscious during a series of brawls at a country footy match on the weekend.

The 36-year-old man was knocked out in one of three brawls that erupted after a Portland game ended in a draw.

The brawl, at Alexandra Park, started about 4.30pm after a game between Westerns and Dartmoor ended in a draw.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the first brawl broke out shortly after the final siren.

Were you at the game? Contact our newsdesk on (03) 9292 1226
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"A second brawl then broke out, as players left the ground, between players and spectators," she said.

"A third brawl then broke out as players headed for the change rooms. It was during this brawl the victim was punched in the head and knocked unconscious."

The spokeswoman said up to 60 people were involved in the fighting.

It is believed up to a dozen police officers took more than 10 minutes to break up the fight.

Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said police called paramedics to the ground.

Mr Mullen said the young man was unconscious when paramedics arrived.

He said he suffered facial injuries, including a broken nose. He was taken to Portland Hospital.

Westerns president Jamie Ross refused to speak to the Herald Sun this morning.

South West Football District League spokesman Robert Chandler said the brawl was the worst the league had seen in more than a decade.

“I’ve been here more than 10 years and it’s the worst I’ve heard about…others are saying it’s the worst they’ve seen,” he said.

Mr Chandler said the league would crack down on any players involved in the brawl.

He said the league had launched an investigation and would work in conjunction with a football tribunal to take action on players.

Mr Chandler said the league had worked hard to remove violence from the game over the past decade.

“Years ago there might have been a few more problems, with some rough players, but we’ve cleaned up the league now,” he said.

“This is a very unfortunate incident.”

Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Portland police station.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/man-knocked-unconscious-during-all-in-brawl-at-footy-match-in-portland/story-fn7x8me2-1226078259722

I can see the merits of it, but it's dangerously leaning towards just completely getting rid of the Salary Cap, and then we'll just have the EPL in the AFL where only 3/4 clubs can win the league and no one else has anything worth playing for.

The last time the AFL/VFL had 'free agency' in 1973, North Melbourne won two premierships after recruiting players like Doug Wade, Barry Davis and John Rantall.

Except there are foreign millionaires willing to pour money into clubs in england and they've got the chance to compete for continental competition and/or avoid relegation in the EPL. Neither of which will ever be a possibility in the AFL. Finals football is the biggest incentive there, but the richest clubs at the moment will be the ones who benefit the most from free agency and the other clubs will be stuck in footballing pergatory.

The last time the AFL/VFL had 'free agency' in 1973, North Melbourne won two premierships after recruiting players like Doug Wade, Barry Davis and John Rantall.

Yup. And once those rich clubs continue to win the Grand Final, they'll get richer, and the clubs who dont win will get poorer, and then the new players will want to go to the bigger clubs, because it's the only way they'll get any success.

Six AFL players fail illicit drug tests in 2010

Michael Warner From: Herald Sun June 22, 2011 11:23AM

THE AFL says the fact just six players failed illicit drug tests in 2010 is proof its three-strikes policy is working.

The league this morning released the results of its testing for illicit drugs last year.

In 2010, the AFL conducted 1654 tests - the most since the policy was introduced in 2005 - with a total of six failed tests recorded.

Five of the positive results were for stimulants - cocaine or ecstasy - with one for cannabis.

The six test failures is the lowest figure since testing began, down from 14 in 2009, 12 in 2008 and 14 in 2007.

Four of the failures were first strikes, one was a second strike and there was one third strike - former Hawthorn player Travis Tuck, who received a 12-week ban after being found unconscious in his car in August.

The AFL said today that apart from Tuck, no other player had tested positive to party drug GHB.

The figures are for illicit drug tests only - the league released results two months ago for testing for performance-enhancing drugs which revealed no positive results under the anti-doping code since 1997.

They also do not include any players caught in a trial of hair-testing - all the positive results were from urine tests.

The league said all players who returned positive results to the hair tests had been directed to education programs, but refused to say how many had failed the tests.

AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson applauded clubs for their assistance in the policy and identifying "at-risk" players who have been referred for outside help.

"This has been a remarkable, incredibly successful policy in changing player behaviour," he said.

Anderson said he was not concerned by comments this morning by Collingwood star Dane Swan, who complained about drug testers knocking on his door at 6am.

"The achievement of a 10-fold reduction in failed test numbers is a testimony to the success of the policy in being able to change behaviour, as well as the leadership of our player group in taking on such a policy, when they had no requirement to do so,” he said.

AFL Players Association CEO Matt Finnis confirmed the illicit drugs policy was up for review but said players would most likely back it to continue.

"Our education around this issue is clearly having a positive effect, and the players should be congratulated for taking a hands-on, proactive role in seeking to curb risky behaviours amongst their peers," he said.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/six-afl-players-fail-illicit-drug-tests-in-2010/story-e6frepf6-1226079821101

The AFL will argue that retaining the draft will balance this out. But that won't work, all it will do is make clubs currently down the bottom like Fremantle, Adelaide, Brisbane et al into feeder clubs for the likes of Collingwood.

Kick straight sometimes, Collingwood :lol: