Joffa and the Pies cheer squad sacked

[one-eyed]

Geez those feathery ferals may cross over  . To be a member of the RFC Cheer Squad is half the price of theirs  .

------------------------------------------------------
Collingwood cheer squad fanatics sacked, told to reapply
Cheryl Critchley
November 26, 2008

COLLINGWOOD has effectively sacked its entire cheer squad to purge it of so-called troublemakers.

Members have been told they have to reapply for their positions. Membership costs up to $795, twice as much as at other Victorian clubs.

A new application form asks them to list three qualities they will bring to the cheer squad. They are also asked: "What is the best word to describe yourself? Do you have any special talents?" and "Are you prepared to wear the official Collingwood cheer squad uniform at games?"

Adult fees cost up to $795 compared with $316 for similar benefits at Richmond. Child fees are up to eight times those at other clubs.

Collingwood's standard package costs $630 ($475 concession, $395 junior), which it says includes perks - a reserved seat at all Victorian games and a Grand Final ticket.

Other clubs allocate home-and-away seats as first come, first served.

Collingwood's $795 social club package deal includes a vote at the annual general meeting.

Other clubs charge as little as $20 a year on top of a regular adult membership to join cheer squads.

Richmond cheer squad charges adults $20 on top of a $296 membership (admission to all 17 Victorian games), and children $5 on top of a 17-game membership costing $54.

Collingwood cheer squad volunteer Voula Bitsikas, who survives on a carer's pension but has to find $575 for her social club concession ticket, was livid last night.

She said if the club was trying to clear out troublemakers the move would backfire, as many good fans would be forced to leave.

"I know people who can't afford it and they won't be back. They're innocent, lovely people," she said.

Another low-income worker has had to borrow to pay $1260 for herself and her teenage son. "They've got us by a heartstring," she said.

Many Magpie cheer squad members were fearful of speaking out.

Collingwood membership director Justin Reeves confirmed all cheer squad positions had been advertised.

He said the club wanted to ensure it had the best cheer squad in the AFL.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24707862-2862,00.html

[Chuck17]

I was perusing Nicks BB a while ago and looking at the topic on the cheersquad and a fair few of the posters were embarrassed over their own cheersquad.  Joffa was doing his best to rally the cause but didn't seem to be winning many to the cause.

[Fishfinger]

Collingwood FC are snobs. Who would have believed it. 

If they're fair dinkum the members will need to be able to read, possess front teeth and have less than 20 tattoos (15 for the females).
Seems they already have a dress code in place. 

[mightytiges]

ORCS have always been the best and biggest cheer squad in the league .

A new application form asks them to list three qualities they will bring to the cheer squad. They are also asked:

How a Pies fan would answer it:

"What is the best word to describe yourself?" -  piano-teeth

"Do you have any special talents?" - I can count up to the number of flags we've won in the last 50 years.

"Are you prepared to wear the official Collingwood cheer squad uniform at games?" - Easy peasy. I already wear black and white stripes at Barwon the other 6 days of the week.

[one-eyed]

Joffa caught making a tool of himself again ...

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24742867-2862,00.html

PIES cheer squad stalwart Jeff "Joffa" Corfe could be on the outer after publishing a photo of himself with two rifles, Chopper Read style.

The photo of an armed Joffa appears on a Collingwood supporters website under the words "And this is me ready for our 2009 premiership tilt . . . bring em on GO PIES".

[Chuck17]

He must have lent the collective brain for the Pies cheersquad to someone else that day.

Good to see he is supporting Didak though 

[one-eyed]

This isn't on the net so I typed it out....

Put a Tiger in your tank, Eddie
By Cheryl Critchley
Thu 04 Dec 2008, Page 35

EDDIE McGuire obviously hasn't recovered from the 81-point thrashing my Tigers gave Collingwood in the 1980 Grand Final.

I watched that game in the Richmond cheer squad, wearing my "Michael 8 Roach'' duffel coat, and can just imagine Eddie's nightmares of Kevin Bartlett, arms in the air, celebrating each of his seven goals.

Twice in the past two days Eddie claimed on radio that I wrote a negative story about Collingwood because I'm in the Richmond cheer squad. Talk about playing the (wo)man and not the ball!

Last week's story about the Pies effectively sacking squad members and charging them up to twice as much as other Victorian teams was written because many of those hard-working members are upset.

These are the fans who make the banner every week, rattle tins for the club, and turn up through thick and thin.
AFL clubs should be paying them.

Eddie loves Collingwood and devotes his life to the black and white, but needs to remember that few fellow members live in Toorak and earn squillions.

Many Magpie cheer squad devotees are pensioners, or earn little. One I spoke to had to buy her membership on credit and reconsider her health insurance.

Others were fearful of speaking out. Whatever happened to robust footy debate? Last I heard, we still lived in a democracy.

One of the reasons I rejoined the Richmond cheer squad with my family, after many years, was its value.

The Tigers charge just $20 per adult and $5 per child on top of a regular membership, which for 17 games is $296 for adults and $54 for children.

Other Victorian clubs charge between $20 (North Melbourne) and $75 (Western Bulldogs) for adults. Kids' prices range from $10 (North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs) to $35 (Melbourne). This is on top of a 16 to 18-game adult membership costing about $300 or a junior version costing about $60.

Collingwood cheer squad members pay at least $630 in total for adults and $395 for kids. They get a weekly reserved seat and guaranteed Grand Final ticket access.

But other clubs don't need such a "guarantee'' -- the cheer squad will always be catered for if the club makes the big day.

Sadly, the Pies have corporatised the last bastion of footy bogans, of which I am a proud member. It even markets its cheer squad like some corporate package.

"As a member of the 2009 official Collingwood cheer squad you will be at the forefront for all Collingwood supporters,'' a website brochure reads.

"This exclusive membership entitles you to prime reserved seats at all Collingwood matches, guaranteed access to all Collingwood finals matches and a behind-the-scenes view of pre-match activities.''

As for Joffa's gun-toting pose, it wasn't his wisest move.

As one who had "in premiership and wooden spoon years'' in my wedding vows, I am all for footy fanaticism.

But Joffa should stick to gold jackets, even if it is my team's colours and not his.

In the end, my main concern as a journalist and footy nut is sticking up for those who are taken for granted -- ordinary supporters.

Yes, I'm a rabid Tiger, but I have publicly bagged my club when warranted (like after our 29-goal loss to Geelong last year).

I also wrote a feature article exposing the bitter Richmond board battle of 2004.

Let's just hope we can continue to argue the toss over all matters footy and not be sidelined for doing it.

Go, Tigers!

[bushranger]

Joffa is a waste of space and those rifles would have been better under his chin. 

[Ox]

It's clear that a moron lIke jofa has to go....

I would be tempted to land one on his jaw if i saw him out and about.

[Ox]

The FACE OF COLLINGWOOD.

[bushranger]

FUGLY is all I can say to that. he would be better on Monsters Inc. I know he would scare little kids.

[one-eyed]

Eddie's had a sook and dig at Richmond in today's Herald-Sun.

---------------------------
Good old Pie fans forever
By Eddie McGuire
Sunday Herald-Sun, 07 Dec 2008, Pages 74-75

I LIVE in Toorak, but at Collingwood we don't forget our people.

It's a point I made plenty of times last week after it was alleged we had sacked our cheer squad and were charging them a fortune.

After the initial story appeared in the Herald Sun, I conducted two days of radio interviews to explain what was really going on.

In response, Cheryl Critchley, whose original story had started the caper, wrote an opinion piece objecting to my pointing out that she was a member of the Richmond cheer squad, which hadn't been mentioned in her original story.

She also wrote: "In the end, my main concern as a journalist and footy nut is sticking up for those who are taken for granted -- ordinary supporters.''

She also claimed, in a rather cliched fashion, that I "need to remember that few members live in Toorak and earn squillions''. Yawn.

So, here are the facts. At Collingwood we are not charging a fortune or ripping off our members.

The reason why the cheer squad has been revamped is because some people were claiming the subsidised seats and not contributing to the essence of the cheer squad.

Others had outlived their welcome, while many hundreds of others wanted to be part of the action on game day.

Cheer squad members will now pay the same amount for reserved seats as everyone else.

They will receive special benefits and, when we have got rid of the troublemakers and those who don't want to cheer, make it a great match-day experience.

We have received support from many members of the cheer squad and the other members who pay for seats in the vicinity. Those who may get the elbow haven't been as enthusiastic.

Collingwood has also introduced a three-game package aimed at helping people who want to be part of the club, but can't afford the high-end packages.

Our 11-game package is the third lowest in the game -- 50c dearer than Essendon and, get this, Cheryl substantially cheaper than Richmond.

Our home-and-away package, when adjusted to account for the fact we play more games in Melbourne than other clubs, is again substantially cheaper than Richmond -- as is the home game social club package.

It's worth mentioning that Collingwood doesn't sell its games interstate and plays as many games as it does at the MCG so that every person who wants to see the black-and-white stripes in action can do so for the minimum admission price, with a seat as good as the president's.

Collingwood supporters buy up to whatever level they can afford. A record 42,000 did so last year and this year we have made it even more flexible and affordable.

"Corporatising'' the cheer squad? No, we are making it a safe and enjoyable part of football life.

And here's something else -- at Collingwood you need only say ``Go Pies!'' to be a part of the Magpie army.

[bushranger]

When Eddie opens his mouth and talks you know he is lying.
I spos this is another Million in his bank account.

[mightytiges]

LOL Eddie trying to make out Collingwood memberships are "substancially" cheaper than Richmond's. Wow $4 cheaper for Adult 11 is substancial .

Not to mention Richmond's concession 11, all junior, family, and virtually all reserved seating are all cheaper than Collingwood's  .

                          CFC              RFC           
Adult 11             $170              $174             
Adult 18             $305              $296* (17)

Adult 11 Reserve $340     $287 / 327 / 370
Adult 18 Reserve $630     $409 / 449 / 492* (17)
             
Conc  11             $125             $108
Conc  18             $150             $162* (17)

Junior 18             $70               $54* (17) 

Family 11          $350                $348 
Family 18         $620 (34.44pg) $592* (17) 34.82 per game

[bushranger]

I knew I was right just go to the post that I done before this one and it all reads true.
Collingwooden spooner's