Haha, Mars is my nickname too.... Keep me as a sponsor!!

_________________
Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

Would have thought Mick Malthouse would be the perfect choice for a brand partnership with these blokes:

_________________
"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

& here I was thinking that was the reason we took Mick Maguane

_________________
#DonTheStash

We may have found Gibbs real father in the front there..

_________________

_________________
THEY LIKE TO SEND UP!!!!!!!!

Until each team plays each other the same number of times, the AFL, as a fair dinkum competition, cannot be taken seriously.

He (Mr Swann) said the honour and pride associated with the club's traditional navy blue jumper was priceless.

So... things have changed a bit this season for the people looking for value for money.

1. There's no cooler on offer
2. Not many clubs are offering the entry to additional AFL matches at the MCG in the AFL Reserve (excluding finals) to make up 11 Victorian games (ie. If the GIANTS play 5 games at the MCG and Etihad Stadium, you can attend an additional 6 games involving any two other teams at the MCG, excluding the ANZAC Day game).

Luckily - the Giants and Suns still are - as are the Swannies - but it'll set you back a bit more coin. To be a 'Victorian GIANT' I'd get pretty much the same deal as last year.

*Entry to all GIANTS matches played at the MCG and Etihad Stadium in the AFL Reserve (subject to capacity)
*Entry to additional Toyota AFL Premiership Season matches at the MCG in the AFL Reserve (excluding finals) to make up 11 Victorian games
*2014 GIANTS Member pack including a GIANTS member cap, member card and lanyard, bumper sticker and fixture magnet
*2014 junior GIANTS pack if under 15 years old, with GIANTS cape flag, GIANTS face paint and sticker sheet set
*Access to the members bar in Sydney and post match functions
*Access to upgrade your entry at the MCG or Etihad Stadium to a reserved seat at the cost of the booking fee
*Entry to the AFL Members reserve at the MCG for weeks 1-2 of finals in Melbourne, subject to the GIANTS participating
*Access to purchase guest passes into the AFL Reserve subject to availability
*Access to purchase general admission tickets to International Cricket at the MCG in the AFL Members Reserve
*Priority access to purchase tickets for GIANTS home matches in Sydney and the ACT

The SUNS too play 5 games in Melbourne this year.

*Entry into the AFL Reserve for all GC SUNS Away matches played at Etihad Stadium or the MCG (subject to capacity)
*Entry to additional matches at the MCG in the AFL Reserve (excluding ANZAC Day) to make up 11 games in your membership
*Entry to two home games at Metricon Stadium with access to General Admission seating on Level 1 (subject to capacity)
*GC SUNS ‘2014 Members’ scarf to take with you to the game (Adult and Concession members)
*Juniors Members receive Junior pack
*10% discount at the GC SUNS Shop
*Access to the MCG AFL Reserve in weeks 1 and 2 of the Toyota AFL Finals Series should the GC SUNS participate (at the cost of the booking fee)
*Access to purchase daily tickets in the members only priority period in February

The SUNS also have a game down here vs Carlton which is included - while Carlton play the GIANTS in Sydney and is a game I am unable to attend and not included in the membership pack.

Both are $220. Compare that to a Carlton Football Club membership. Say I want to attend 11 matches like the interstate packages, I live in Melbourne and I'm over 15 years of age. Do I want a reserve seat? Sure - that'd be nice - and makes sense. Ok - I'm up to $390 - which is ok I guess when you break it down to $35.45 a game.

Ok...do I want access to the Carlton Social Club? Well - it sounds nice...but if I tick 'yes' this thing balloons to $560. And I take umbrage that they've tied in a post-match party pie to guaranteed access to a Grand Final ticket. Do I think Carlton are going to make the Grand Final? It's possible, but no - I don't see it happening this year. So am I paying $170 for 11 party pies? Or $15.45 per party pie per match? My, my Ron Evans would be happy with that!

It would seem that the SUNS membership wins again. Good value for money despite no cooler.



GO BLUES!

$170 FOR 11 PARTY PIES.

Lucky for you you read the small print.

They obviously have more demand than spots for standing room I'm guessing in the Social Club.

Youre a Sunny Boy now.

I hope we do get to the GF, but the odds arent that good.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I just look for value for money...what am I getting for my money? Forget the Social Club entry bit and the club is essentially charging you $170 for the ability to book a Grand Final ticket...but only if they're there. That's a bit much in my eyes.

Why not take the $170 portion and then as soon as the club is eliminated from Grand Final contention - send those members a $50 voucher from the store. That way - the average member thinks they're getting something for nothing when in actual fact - they're not. And the club keeps the coin - but at the same time 'gives something back'. Put some marketing behind it if you want. Sell it however you want..."If we don't make the Grand Final - we'll give you $50*"

You can't tell me that they've done the analysis and calculated how much it costs to hire the Social Club room and/or the price they're willing to put on a guaranteed Grand Final ticket. It's the economics of membership. I didn't put a price on loyalty - the club did...so if I want to see my club play live football 7 times during the season in Melbourne - and save money in the process - I'm better off buying a Victorian Gold Coast membership. The reality of it is - I'm unlikely to go to 11 homes games and 7 would be an almighty effort. So it's $560 versus $220. I can even justify a trip to Sydney to see the Blues in July plus accommodation with the $340 remaining.

I don't see a downside.

Edward de Bono would be proud.

The AFL and clubs should be paying attention.

_________________
Click here to follow TalkingCarlton on twitter
TalkingCarlton Posting Rules

I've said it before Doc, you're a wasted talent.

The club could do with a bit of lateral thinking....maybe change your name to Dr DeBono, and they may jump at the oportunity use a few of your ideas. I know they have given you their ear a couple of times, but I havent seen those ideas adopted and run with them.

Funny, I just noticed camelboy write De Bono.

I like the way you think Doc...when you're not angry.

I do feel like a sucker paying for loyalty, but I'd be a hypocrite if I didnt in my kids eyes, because I ask them to be loyal to Carlton and avoid Swans and GWS in their backyard...and to hate Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon*, as they do...and not concern ourselves with the rest who would like to be called the big 4.

Good onya

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I spoke with the membership managers at Carlton about this 15 months ago. If it were advertised - it might get some uptake - but the fact that most supporters aren't looking at it means that it'll go on until some of the interstate clubs don't do it anymore. Many think it's an AFL initiative for the newly established clubs - but that's not quite right seeing as the Swans do it too and a few others did it last year.

While a membership often comes with voting rights - I'm not always going to get a vote at Carlton. The club would rather bypass the democratic process when it can, and while this is the case - I'm reluctant to join. Membership then is really just 'season tickets' and what package best suits.

If I advertised that I could get to 7 Carlton games in the AFL reserve for $220 - would people follow suit or are they too loyal or too dumb?

The easy counter to that is your money is going to support another club.

But that is the only compelling reason against your approach. As to how compelling that is as a deciding factor is up to the individual.

I pay for a adult silver membership every year and see it as a form of donation preferable to the raffle ticket. I might get to a couple of games per year, so I'm hardly getting value for money. If I lived in Melbourne and actually had a need for a membership then I might start seeking alternate options.

Loyalty is not necessarily a poor virtue to have, but in this instance if enough people started to look at best value memberships AFL-wide rather than with the club they follow then the message might get through so that clubs might provide better value or more tailored options to its members.

Another alternative is that the AFL structures the memberships and standardises them across all 18 clubs. But I can't see that happening anytime soon.

_________________
Click here to follow TalkingCarlton on twitter
TalkingCarlton Posting Rules

Actually you have - you just don't know it.

The AFL have a greater say in club membership packages than people realise.

Can't believe the AFL has given away seats in the AFL reserve for this purpose. As an AFL member this is ddisappointing . Lucky I suspended this year

_________________
Between our dreams and actions lies this world

AFL membership is still the best one around IMO but the AFL has little regard for its members.

_________________
T E A M

I'm currently a long distance member (Bendigo) so I currently pay $135 for 5 home games admission (which I think used to Home or Away games?).

After looking at the fixture this year I'm going to struggle to attend that many due to the fact that attending night/twilight games with a young family on a Sunday/Monday night is not really an option.

Carlton doesn't play Gold Coast at Metricon this year but if they do next year, I'd have to seriously look at getting a Victorian Suns membership as a better value for money option to sit in AFL section.

Although I have already purchased my 10yr old boys membership, I am seriously considering the Suns membership for my wife, the boy and me as it is a lot of coin saved (even factoring in the the boy’s membership already paid for).

My query is (please excuse my ignorance);
Entry to additional matches at the MCG in the AFL Reserve (excluding ANZAC Day) to make up 11 games in your membership

Do I have to pre-purchase for these games or is it just a walk up first in best dressed arrangement and sit wherever you like in the AFL reserve section?

Depends on the game. If it's Carlton v Collingwood - you'd better book. If it's Carlton v Melbourne you can walk up to the board inside Gate 6 and see where the allocation of seats are (or sit wherever they tell you isn't reserved).