The AFL community was quick to act to provide as much support as possible for the victims of the fires and many initiatives will continue throughout the year.
Below is a brief list of what the AFL and all 16 clubs have done to support the Bushfire Appeal in the past month.
AFL
Among other things the AFL raised $1.2m from the NAB Cup Busfire Appeal match between Essendon and the Western Bulldogs. That figure included all gate receipts, match costs and $70,000 collected from players, coaches and volunteers around the ground. It also included a $300,000 donation from the AFL on behalf of all 16 AFL clubs.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide
The fierce rivals put hostilities aside on February 17 and took to a makeshift AAMI Stadium cricket pitch to raise money in SA Footy's Bushfire Bash for Cash. The inaugural Twenty20 match between the two sides attracted more than 8000 fans and generated proceeds of nearly $160,000 for the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal. Port Adelaide, led by man of the match Glenn 'Cougar' Dawson, took the honours surpassing Adelaide's total of 155 with 12 balls and four wickets to spare.
Brisbane Lions
The Lions gave a percentage of memberships sold between February 16-20 to the appeal as well as giving gross takings from the Lions Shop for the month of February.
There was a collection at Gold Coast Stadium prior to the round one NAB Cup match against St Kilda, as well as money raised during the family day.
Carlton
Carlton players have visited Whittlesea and Kinglake and have hosted bushfire victims at special training sessions at Visy Park. Memorabilia and merchandise has been donated in addition to direct monetary donations made by players, coaches and staff.
The proceeds of the club's family day were donated to the Appeal and were matched dollar for dollar by Visy who also donated $250,000 up front.
Collingwood
Collingwood donated $160,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal with the club’s players, staff and supporters rallying behind the cause. While cash donations were made, an on-line auction also generated substantial funds.
All proceeds of every three-game membership sold went directly to the bushfire appeal. A small contingent of Collingwood players have also made trips to affected areas.
Essendon
The Bombers played the Bushfire Appeal game against the Western Bulldogs and donated all money raised from their February 22 Family Day to the cause.
They have also auctioned off player apparel, worn the bushfire appeal phone number on their shorts, added a $1 surcharge to each meal at the Windy Hill venue and have had players visit the Whittlesea area.
Fremantle and West Coast
Fremantle has combined with West Coast to play a NAB Challenge match this Saturday, with all funds raised to aid sporting clubs affected by the Victorian bushfires.
The joint initiative was also driven by the WA Football Commission. Fremantle also raised $19,623 when it met Richmond in the side's NAB Cup opener last month.
West Coast has more than a dozen players on its list from country Victoria, and that group has liaised with the club on ways to contribute to the relief effort, in addition to the bushfire appeal derby.
Adam Selwood, who hails from Bendigo, represented the club at the NAB Cup Bushfire Appeal Match at Docklands and hopes to return to his hometown soon to contribute to further fundraising efforts.
Geelong
Players and staff made direct debits from their January wages, which will be donated directly to the Red Cross Appeal. The Cats are also kicking in at least $40,000 of the prize money the club will receive from the NAB Cup. It will be increased to $50,000 if they make the grand final, in addition to donating football goods and memorabilia to clubs in the affected areas.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is donating all sales of the 2008 Grand Final DVD to support the rebuilding of communities affected by the bushfires. The initiative comes as part of Hawthorn’s Victorian Bushfire Community Program Appeal.
Melbourne
Melbourne has been actively involved in assisting with the bushfire survivors. Chris Connolly, Cameron Bruce, Paul Wheatley and Mark Jamar visited Boolarra and Russell Robertson, Ricky Petterd, Paul Wheatley and Jack Grimes visited Whittlesea.
Players donated bags of sporting gear, clothing and toiletries to the bushfire appeal and Melbourne also raised $5000 at its intra club match at Casey Fields.
North Melbourne
North Melbourne has donated $30,000 cash, junior memberships and more than 200 hours in player and staff appearances to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. Twenty signed guernseys have also been provided for fundraisers in the affected areas. The club is now considering a specific project for the ongoing recovery period.
Richmond
Richmond has raised $100,000, the majority of which came from Richmond supporters taking up the opportunity to have their photo taken with the 2009 Tiger team at a cost of $500 each.
St Kilda
St Kilda wore the Red Cross Appeal phone number on the players’ shorts in the NAB Cup round one clash with the Brisbane Lions. The club also collected donations at the game and auctioned match-worn gear from that game. Major sponsor Linen House also donated $105,000 worth of product to the appeal.
Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans forward Barry Hall took part in a celebrity Twenty20 cricket match at the SCG, while Jude Bolton headed down to Docklands to represent the club at the Essendon-Bulldogs NAB Cup Bushfire Appeal game. The club also supplied the AFL with a range of signed merchandise to distribute, and club staff and players will hold a donation day for charity organisation St Vincent’s.
Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs played Essendon in the Bushfire Appeal game, which raised in excess of $1.2 million. Memorabilia from the match were then auctioned off.
The Dogs also donated 20 per cent of all membership and merchandise sales between February 13-22.
The club hosted 12-year-old member Tyson Crowl from Kinglake, who lost his family home in the fires, as their mascot for the night.
