AFL clubs charging fans to take their photographs
Cheryl Critchley | March 03, 2009
AFL clubs charging die-hard fans up to $25 for photos with their favourite players have been branded greedy.
Hawthorn slugged fans $25 for a picture with superstars Buddy Franklin, Luke Hodge, Stuart Dew and Cyril Rioli at a recent family day.
Richmond charged $20 for snaps with some of its top stars, while North Melbourne's fee was $10 and Melbourne a gold coin donation.
Collingwood will charge a fee at its March 15 event, but declines to reveal how much.
The clubs say they have to cover their costs, but supporters are upset at having to cough up cash for happy snaps, and several footy legends understand their ire.
Collingwood champ and father of three Peter Daicos said families were doing it tough and many would not be able to afford multiple photos.
"I know how much joy it brings to the kids to get photos with their favourite player," he said yesterday.
"I'd prefer the service to be offered free but . . . they're (AFL clubs) all scampering to try and make a few bob and build their stocks.
"In the end that's just the nature of the beast."
Footy legend Ron Barassi said it was not good for the image of AFL clubs, but the charge helped them stay afloat. "It's the downside of the way of the world," he said.
North Melbourne great Glenn Archer agreed.
"I can see both sides," he said. "Some people would say they pay enough for their membership. Unfortunately . . . it costs $20 million to run a football club these days."
No club yet charges for autographs.
A Richmond fan who didn't want to be named said $20 for a player photo was "outrageous".
"Why should we have to pay for that? It's not like they don't make enough from us as it is," she said.
Collingwood supporter Angie said she had lined up for more than an hour and paid to have her picture taken with Magpie stars. "Everything is so controlled. If it's a family day it's a strange sort of family," she said.
St Kilda, Essendon, Brisbane and Carlton are among clubs that don't charge.
Carlton spokesman Stephen Wilson said family day was free.
"It's about the players so all (of them were) free and available to sign autographs," he said. "It is about the supporters meeting the players."
Essendon provides free professional shots that fans can access on the club website.
"The club wears this fee in order to make a special day that recognises the supporters who support the club each year," spokeswoman Cara Pelchen said.
Brisbane Lions spokesman Sam Lord said apart from a special photo with the whole team, everything on family day was free.
Clubs charging for photos said it was necessary to help cover the costs of producing the professional shots and security, ground hire and
entertainment for the day.
Hawthorn spokesman Clinton Bown said charging for photos helped cover costs.
On bigfooty.com, Hawthorn fans appeared happy to part with their money for a shot with the 2008 Premiership cup. "$25 well spent!" said Blockman155.
Another Hawthorn spokesman said the club also used the 2008 cup to raise money for charity, including the Victorian Bushfire Fund.
Collingwood's Nick Hulett said the fee for a shot with multiple high-profile players was "only to cover costs of the professional photography and is not a profitable exercise for the club".
Mr Hulett said the family day was not profitable.
AFL Cheer Squad League chairman Daniel Peterson, a Kangaroos fan, said he wouldn't pay more than $10 for a photo.
An AFL spokesman said it was up to clubs how they ran family days.
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