Is the Collingwood Football Club (CFC), actually going to have a Cheer Squad during the 2009 AFL Premiership Season?
With the sacking of the previous Cheer Squad, the increase in prices for Cheer Squad Memberships for the 2009 season and beyond, this combined with a new application form to obtain membership, who actually knows?
On November 26th it became apparent that the CFC had sacked its entire Cheer Squad, the offered explanation being to clean it of ‘trouble makers’. All Collingwood Members and Cheer Squad Members have been instructed to re apply for their positions to be a part of the squad, with prices being increased dramatically
Adult fees can cost up to $795, which is the price for a Social Club Package Deal, and this package includes a vote at the annual meeting. When comparing these prices to other Victorian Clubs, the Pies charge twice as much. Various other clubs also charge as little as $20 a year on top of a regular adult membership to join Cheer Squads. This is a small expense compared with what Magpies Members have to fork out in order to join their beloved Pies Cheer Squads. The standard package to be a part of the Collingwood Cheer Squad is priced as $630 ($475 concession and $395 junior). It is also believed to have benefits such as a reserved seat at Victorian games and a Grand Final ticket.
When applying to be Cheer Squad Members, each application form requires the applicants to answer some of the following questions:
• Listing three qualities they will bring to the cheer squad.
• What is the best word to describe yourself?
• Do you have any special talents?
• Are you prepared to wear the official Collingwood cheer squad uniform at games?
• Occupation
As a long time Collingwood Supporter, I believe sacking the entire Cheer Squad is a little extreme to say the least. If the club are trying to remove trouble makers from contributing to the football club or the cheer squad, only the members of concern should be sacked not the entire squad. Although this would be a more costly and time consuming process it would ensure little animosity from the majority.
Having discussed this with other Collingwood Supporters s I have discovered they share my opinion and described the decision as a “total disgrace”, one woman went on to say that the “current cheer squad has done an awfully good job in the past and they should not all be penalised for the works of others”, she believes that those members that have performed for the Cheer Squad in the past should be allowed to stay on and those who have not performed or behaved as expected should be sacked and then replaced by others. When you consider there is a large demand and waiting lists to be part of AFL Club Cheer Squads, there are likely to be thousands interested in applying.
I believe the increases in prices for the Membership is appalling and outrageous. Many Magpies Members may not be able to afford the extensive and ridiculous amounts of money now required in order to re-join or join as a Cheer Squad Member. Every week these Cheer Squad members donate their time and efforts to support our club and you could even mount an argument that they shouldn’t be charged anything on top of the basic package beyond their time..
One or two of the questions that are located on the new application forms, are relatively reasonable, in regards to what the applicants will be able to bring to the club. However the questions asking for ‘special talents’ is not really necessary, you do not really need to be talented or be a passionate and vocal supporter for the club and afford the membership. The only pre-requisite ‘talent’ would be spelling, as there have been previous incidents of the incorrect spelling of words on banners and signs.
The question regarding wearing the Official Cheer Squad uniform is also a waste of time, why wouldn’t a supporter wear their team’s ‘uniform’, whether it be official club merchandise (e.g. scarves and Guernseys) or cheer squad uniforms which would likely consist of sponsor covered merchandise.
The question regarding the occupation of the applicants is also not relevant, this process is not about your class, how high you are in your business and social standings or even economic and educational status’, it is about getting quality fans to the club offering their support.
It seems only time and the new 2009 AFL Premiership Season will demonstrate the impact of these changes and the degree of success the Collingwood Football Club has in weeding out trouble makers, my hope is that they don’t regret their decisions.
See Also:
A Message to Supporters
Herald Sun Cheer Squad Story
Collingwood Cheer Squad Application
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