FOUR generations of Richmond fans, from 89-year-old Joan to great-granddaughter Zoe, lead a cast of real fans starring in the AFL's new ad campaign starting on air on Sunday night.
This week sees tickets go on sale on Friday, marking the countdown to the start of the 2015 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has promised to make the game more accessible to fans for 2015, and the ad campaign "You Make The Game" puts real supporters at the heart of the AFL's marketing pitch.
Everybody involved, behind the camera and in the ad, are real fans and supporters.
AFL general manager of people, culture and community, Dorothy Hisgrove said that the campaign celebrates the passion of the fans, members and supporters.
"The AFL has made important decisions this year, listening and acting on issues the fans care about," Ms Hisgrove said.
"This ad celebrates the fact the our game doesn't exist without the passion and support of fans, and we celebrate them and their stories of passion.
"The ads include real fans celebrating the fact that football is back," Ms Hisgrove said.
The 'You make the game’ campaign is part of a package of fan-friendly initiatives, including campaigning for cheaper food at venues, a simpler ticketing system with clubs having more control over prices, a more fan friendly fixture, kids free on Sundays in Melbourne, and kick to kick on Sunday's at the MCG.
Tickets go on sale on Friday.
Stars in the ad include:
Swans - Nellie Cooper.
Nellie grew up in Port Melbourne although she supported South Melbourne. When South Melbourne transferred to Sydney her loyalties went with them.
Nellie enforced her ‘Swan fandom’ onto her family converting all kids and almost all grandchildren. Those grandchildren have been removed from her will – jokingly.
Supporting a tattoo on her wrist, she recalls the days leading up to getting it. After commenting on her grandson’s tattoos she swore that if the Swans won the 2005 premiership she would go with him and get a tattoo to commemorate the win.
They won and together they went to the tattoo parlour. But that wasn’t the first and last visit. A few years later her beloved Swans were heading back into the grand final. When they won in 2012 she went back under the needle.
GWS - Joel Fitzgerald.
Joel was a GWS supporter before the Giants' first home and away season.
He was born in the west of Sydney and his friends followed a number of clubs and codes.
However, his sister was a passionate Sydney Swans supporter and pulled him to games and to the AFL code.
Instead of crashing her team, when GWS was announced he wanted to create his own club supporter history.
As soon as the Giants came into existence he signed up as a member, and after a lost wager with his sister, Joel sports a GWS tattoo over his heart. He’s happily a supporter for life!
His favourite memory was of GWS’ first win in its opening season – and his fondest memory to come is when they win their first premiership.
Joel now lives in Melbourne and attends almost all games when they’re down south.
Four generations of Tigers - Carllye Elder (mum of baby Zoe)
The Chapel/Elder family are Richmond supporters for life – four generations and all passionate Richmond members.
Joan, 89 this year and a volunteer at the club, is the matriarch of the family.
Born in Richmond she was a fan from very young. Daughter Christine, granddaughter Carllye, and great granddaughter Zoe had no chance of supporting anyone else.
Carllye recalls going to Richmond games as a child with her Nan and mum. Nan would always pack the ritual egg and lettuce sandwiches. Now, as a vegan, Carllye laughs at the fun they all had.
A clear memory of being a Richmond supporter are the club's highs and lows. Carllye remembers the 1995 preliminary final against Geelong, the hype going into the game after beating Essendon and the tears leaving the oval. Carllye was so upset she forced her Nan to leave before the final siren.
Joan started the tradition of Richmond supporters in the family.
After being born in Richmond she moved to Cressy in northern Victoria, but still travelled down to watch the games.
She started collecting Richmond paper clippings as a teen and continued to collect anything Tigers-related.
All birthday and Christmas gifts were Tiger ornaments – she even sponsored the tiger enclosure at Melbourne Zoo.
She estimates there are tens of thousands of items in her house.
Even the family car is yellow, with Richmond number plate.
