CATS FANS IN GF BALLOT BID

FOOTY fans have called for a controversial fee charged just to try your luck in the AFL Grand Final ballot to be scrapped.

With the last Saturday in September fast approaching, members of remaining finals clubs have been charged nonrefundable registration fees of between $5 and $6 to apply for a seat.

Regardless of whether they score a ticket and whether it is standing room, restricted view or on centre wing, the fee is forfeited by fans on top of ticket costs of between $155 and $422.

Profits from the fee — paid by Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and GWS fans — are believed to be split between the clubs and ticket giant Ticketek.

AFL Fans Association president Gerry Eeman branded the impost “revolting”.

“It just sounds like they’re using the ticket ballot as a way of driving profits,’’ he said.

“They’ve found a new way to extract further dollars from their members and really for something that is probably an automated process where tens of thousands of people are going to miss out on tickets.’’

Richmond this year slugged members $5 to appeal for the Grand Final ballot. Collingwood members were charged $6 and paid up Geelong fans were hit with a $5.50 levy.

GWS charged fans $5 to enter the ballot but Giants spokesman Leigh Meyrick said Ticketek set the levy and the club passed any money it made from it back to the ticketing agency.

But Mr Eeman said the fact clubs were charging members different rates raised eyebrows.

“It just seems ludicrous to have that in place, taking advantage of the most passionate supporters of your club who are A, members and B, willing to fork out to buy tickets,’’ he said.

“And they will still have to pay booking fees on top of that.’’

The AFL said it did not see a cent of the money.

Ticketek, Collingwood and Geelong did not respond to questions about the fee.

In a letter to members, Collingwood said fans would not be charged for tickets if it failed to make the Grand Final.

“However the $6 registration fee (per member) will be retained to cover administration costs incurred,’’ it said.

The rush for Grand Final tickets is this year as intense as ever with even Collingwood fans who paid for “guaranteed’’ seats in their memberships asked to join the ballot.

Richmond fans could only take part in the ballot if they had been a member for 10 years or more.

By last night only 990 public tickets remained for tomorrow’s match, with a crowd of more than 93,500 expected.