Collingwood cheer squad no longer responsible for making players’ banner Jonno Nash
Herald Sun
February 20, 2014 MEMBERS of the Collingwood cheer squad won’t be responsible for making the time-honoured players’ banner on match days from this season, in an AFL-endorsed decision to strengthen its fan base.
Over 100 loyal members of the Magpie Army — the AFL’s largest club supporter base — were told they was being relieved of banner-making duties at a meeting at the Westpac Centre on Tuesday night.
“Volunteers will create the banner, members will hold it up (and) the cheer squad will be all about barracking and sounding great on the day,” Collingwood spokesman Stephen Rielly said.
“We want them (the squad members) to not be concerned about the banner and to focus on making a lot of noise.”
Mr Rielly said the “proactive initiative” was based on the findings of a pre-Christmas survey conducted by cheer squad members.
It revealed the members wanted a rotating seating policy so the group could share “front of fence” seating in the cheer squad.
But Mr Rielly said the on-the-ground banner responsibilities didn’t bode well with the new seating arrangements.
“The members who turned up to the meeting were very enthusiastic because they were getting most of the things they asked for as part of the survey,” he said.
“These are initiatives which have come from them. It’s not like it’s been imposed on the cheer squad without them knowing about it or having a say.
“We hope this will create a greater atmosphere for our fans and to get more people members on board.”
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the league supported the initiative.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/collingwood-cheer-squad-no-longer-responsible-for-making-players-banner/story-fni5f6hd-1226832043926
