I've been on the 'Help Me Decide' part of the Carlton membership page recently...not because I intended to purchase a membership, but I wanted to see what option was the best for me should I decide to put it on the Christmas list. To be honest - I couldn't find value for money nor any membership option that suited me. Sure - I could fork out $80 bucks and buy a 3-gamer, but I think I'd wanna go more than three times. I also detest Etihad. It's an easy drive/train ride from my house but I love going to the 'G. I could also fork out the coin to continue my AFL membership, but in 2013, that's not value for money either.

The problem is alleviated with a Victorian Gold Coast Suns membership. Yes...you read right - a Victorian Gold Coast Suns membership. For $20 bucks a month I get entry into the AFL Reserve for all GC SUNS away matches played at Etihad Stadium or the MCG. That doesn't really help me - I have no interest in watching the Suns play footy - but the Suns only play 4 matches in Victoria next season. I could also get entry to additional matches at the MCG in the AFL Reserve (excluding ANZAC Day) to make up an 11 game membership. So that's 7 of Carlton's 8 games at the MCG covered. I would also get entry to two home games at Metricon Stadium with access to General Admission seating on Level 1 - so there's Carlton's away game against the Suns at Metricon covered as well! Plus...I get this cooler!



So let's recap...

7 Carlton games at the MCG in the AFL Reserve
4 GC SUNS matches played @ Etihad / MCG
1 Carlton game vs GC @ Metricon Stadium
1 Cooler

Total = $215

Am I right in saying the best Carlton 11 game membership I could get (as a Melbourne residing adult with no concession and sitting in half decent seats) would set me back $460?

I haven't done it yet...but I have to say - at $17.91 a game - it is very tempting and certainly the best value for money I could find. 'Go Suns'

Weren't you giving up on footy next year Doc?

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dane's trolling again

regardless, his exercise is

a) rather intelligent and commendable to have investigated and analysed all that

b) rather ridiculous that the option exists

c) should be alarming to carlton

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Think I said I was weaning myself off it Dane...slowly but surely. Too many other things in life. I could well turn into one of those 40-something suits next year who just forks out coin for the Grand Final. That's the easiest way...so during the year there's no stress,no weekend commitment, footy from the comfort of the lounge room, craft beer, central heating, clean toilets (with excellent reading material)...etc etc

But who knows...the Gold Coast Suns and GWS deals look ok...why can't Carlton offer me an 8-game MCG membership?

8 game would be ideal. Would be in that affordable bracket that would still allow you to watch a fair share of games.

For all the 'help me decide' options on our site I still don't quite like my membership. The Carlton Access add on was an added pinch of salt to the hip pocket wound. Just thankful I still get the student discount.

It's worth it just for the cooler!

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#DonTheStash

I wonder if the cooler is 'ill fitting'

i bet if Carlton made one it wouldnt be the right size and would only be big enough to fit something stupid like 5 1/2 beers instead of 6

just like a normal person cant fit their whole head into our caps

:#capobsessedjustmakeadecentcapcantbethathard:

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

The GWS deal has the steak knives.

What concerns me as an AFL Member is that GC Suns members get AFL Reserve seats? That doesn't seem right considering the $500-odd an AFL Member pays.

Screwed by Demetriou again!

But if you're looking at those two options, sounds like it's a no brainer Doc. Double the cost for club loyalty isn't right at all... plus I'd take a free cooler over the worst hat ever to have been given away in a Membership in 2012.

That's what I thought. Albeit you lot would get that feeling you get when you fly domestically and the people next to you say they got this deal and only paid $39 for their seats and you give that '@#$%&! you' half-smile knowing you got screwed by the airlines again and paid $139.

What does that say about Walker?

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Good analysis Doc.

Confirms my view that Football is in a precarious state of affairs.

Unfairly exploiting Victorian Clubs (and therefore the Victorian public) for the benefit of non-Victorian Clubs.

Do we have a strong enough Board at Carlton to stand up to this?

As I said some time ago; I recall a CFC Membership with no admittance to games;

but included all CFC Magazines and a Keyring and Fixture and Newsletters and the inevitable raffle tickets (I always bought a book) etc.

Apparently these don't exist anymore?

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

The At Home one is still there. $90 apparently :S

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BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

@#$%&! me! $90?! Come around to mine and I'll stick the footy on the TV for you, give you 2 imported beers and a steak sandwich for only $55 (+GST)

FWIW - the GWS Victorian membership allows all the benefits of the Suns one (albeit one less game in Melbourne and no Carlton game in Sydney), access to purchase guest passes into the AFL Reserve and access to purchase general admission tickets to International Cricket at the MCG in the AFL Members Reserve. Alas....no cooler. Cool scarf though!

On sourdough with some wedges on the side?

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

hmm, I put your theory at $26.88 a game when you take out the Gold Coast games in Melbourne, so not sure how great the value is for this either, my AFL membership ticked over recently, I guess it's too late for me to suspend it?

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Your math is correct - although sitting in the AFL reserve is far preferable to anywhere else Carlton can offer me. As for your AFL membership, call them, have your credit card details ready and pay the $90 to put it 'on hold' for 12 months (Adult Absentee Member). You can keep doing this year after year and you'll be issued with two MCG AFL Reserve single use guest passes (valued at $62) which can be used for a walk-up match during the home and away season.

Very alarming!

I was just surprised to see Doc!

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dane's trolling again

I seriously might buy one. Crazy

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"I had to eat"