Were you a member in '96? and still are now?

[The Hippie]

First joined as a country member in '95, went to a full membership in '97 & '98, when I was travelling to 7 or 8 games a year, then went back to Aussie Roos memberships when I started working weekends. Still worked around my days off so I could get to most of the Canberra games.

 

[Polecat]

Was a "VFL Junior Suporter's Club" member in the late 70's - early 80's but since the late 80's, have been a club member give or take a couple years when overseas.
Oh - and I always make sure I sit within 'eyeshot' of Metal Mick - if only to observe the amazing colour changes of his face during a game - from pink to red to purple and every hue in between!!

 

[RoosLuver]

I have been a member since '96

 

[Comebackmick]

Proudly YES.

 

[stewart]

Cheer Squad 75 - 79, member for nearly all years since, except for a couple in the late 80's...

Stewart

 

[thumping]

I have been a member since 83 and the only year I missed was 96! Yes I know That was a premiership year But I was touring overseas with My band that year.(Came back for the GF THOUGH)
Carlos,what is youre bands name that Metal "cathouse" Mick sang the songs to?

 

[NeoBlaze]

i've been a member since 2001, i saw all the successes in the 90's but never really got into footy obsessively until 2001

 

[Groucho]

I've been a member since 1990. Joined under the "Operation Kangaroo" campaign. Although I started going to the footy in the '60's I didn't really understand the importance of membership until that 1990 campaign when I realised that the club could literally disappear if we didn't increase our membership. I've been a member ever since (and will always!) and now have 5 in the family as members including my wife,a converted Blue!
1996 was a fantastic year culminating in probably my favourite premiership as it just seemed to be so much against the odds. When you look at the teams that won flags in the '90's they were powerful Vic teams or powerful interstate teams then there was us! It was a great day that GF and, I must admit, I thought all our financial problems were solved,little did I know that they were only beginning! We're still here though always will be.

 

[NeoBlaze]

Originally posted by Groucho
We're still here though always will be.

we have aylett now, i'm sure we'll see a turn around in that belief

 

[Horace]

I know this is not answering the original question but anyway, I was a Fitzroy member until 1996, a member of both Brisbane (tried it, didn't work, hated the merger) and North in 1997, since 1998 a North member and will be for as long as I can afford to buy a ticket.

 

[ROWDY ROO]

Have been a member since 1990. Was at the 96 and 99 Grand Final's, missed out on a ticket for 98 was upset at the time but by the end of the game was happy i didn't go.

 

[Rooboy 96]

read the signature...

 

[morpheus]

read the signature and yes I'll be a paid up member my whole life as long as I can afford one.

 

[jonty12]

I got a membership as a present in 1995 and I got memberships again in 1996, 1998, 1999. Since 2000 I have had an AFL membership with Roos club support.

 

[Royal Blue And White]

'93 -

 

[Tas]

I did have a membership in 96 and well before then and do have one now but was not a member for quite a while in between.

Moving to NSW for two years for work was a part of that reason, but it had more to do with being extremely unhappy with the decision the board had at the time of trying to dump this fantastic club into another state.

I used to purchase Pagan's Patron tickets only to help the club out by giving them more money. I don't think I ever sat in my reserved seat, we always sat in general admission areas due to bringing non-members to the games.

We were able to reasonable membership levels but the club did nothing to secure its future, financially or in any other means.

Whilst our board had good intentions for the club, the execution was inept and had no consideration for the current members. That would be the prime reason for the fall-out of membership.

Players come and go but the club is the driving focus. Changing the name to Kangaroos was an obvious market decision and probably something that had to happen, but its execution was cheap and it was embarassing to see players sing the song with the old words.

The club sold out on the members and if Sydney had accepted the club we would more than likely not be seeing many if any games here in Melbourne today.

Whilst I feel fortunate that the club is here today, by fate alone and not by competent administration, it is difficult for alot of people to turn around and give money to a club that had no resolve to be here for the members.

Our administration was spending money like an addicted gambler, money we did not have, spending above and beyond our means. It is one thing to ask the supporters to chip in and help but it does not make a difference if the club is run poorly.

I feel the club has finally got its act together, partly due to the AFL forcing the club to act like a professional organisation and get a financial plan together and I do feel now that we have the right people to lead the club.

It has never been about on-field performance. I was more excited watching these guys play the last two years than I have been during the previous 5 years. When you are expected to win every week you can only go downwards, a loss is major disappointment, a win is expected and if you don't win by alot you did not perform very well. I love going to games and not having that expectation, because any result is a good result.

I guess it was the reason I endured years of mediocre on-field performances at Arden Street and later at the MCG well before Pagan took over.

I have no doubt the club will turn around in the medium-term. That period of ten years of success and consistant performance did achieve one lasting result. Young kids aged 5-9 which get their first exposure to football often adopt teams that are performing well at the time.

We would have a significant following of young to very young supporters who chose us as their club, we just have to show that we are here to stay and play competitively until we can convert those supporters to members.

We, the supporters, who are passionate about the club will do what we can for the club but the club must do all they can to ensure the club's security and future. No matter how much we try as supporters, we wont be the ones that decide the fate of the club.

Even powerful and strongly supported clubs like Richmond and Collingwood came close to the point of bankruptcy due to mismanagement. Our fate is dependant on competent administration.

Bulldogs are an example of what happens when you shake the tin year after year after year. You struggle to survive and it has a very real impact on your membership and playing performance.

Whilst a small portion of the any club following are dedicated and support the club under any circumstance, by far the majority of the supporters want to know that the club is there long-term, it is working for the interest of the members and it will be competitive on the field.

Our players have given us everything, I could not fault them at all, they have my praise, respect and admiration. I think the administration has to now step up and do its job and communicate better with the supporters both past and present.

Not once was any effort made by the club to call me or write to me after not renewing what was a membership ticket of over $300+ a year.

Clubs like Richmond have players call up members who do not renew their regular membership tickets and talk to them, find out why, have them talk to the supporters and try and get their support.

Our administration has to do alot more to listen to the supporters, find out where the old supporters are, why they are not signing up and seek to communicate with them.

If the administration does not do all that it can do then we will struggle to break free of mediocrity in terms of financial stability and security.

Those reptitive TV adds might remind members that had every intention to renew their membership to do so, but it wont do anything to address the fact that a large portion of our supporters felt betrayed by their club and that there is no future following the Kangaroos.

 

[saggers]

was a junior member through the 70's when $5 got you into every game for the year. been to every roos grand final since 76. wasnt allowed to go in 1975 and i'm still bleeding about it. being 5 years old the folks thought i was too young to appreciate it. would love to have been able to say i was there though.

drifted away during the 80's due to living in the country but still went as often as possible. got back from overseas the day after schimma was flicked at the start of 93 and have been a member again ever since.

i was wondering where those who used to go to arden st. used to sit? i used to stand along the rails at the back of the seats near the fence. always on the flank, grandstand side toward the visitors end of the ground. i'll always remember the guy in the stand who used to start the north melbourne chant and get the crowd going. i still see him at roos games.

 

[mighty mick]

always along the fence in front of the members area to the left of the race. we could of been little roo friends then and not even known it

 

[saggers]

i would have been the one stuffing down the 6 for $1 jam donuts!

 

[Horace]

Makes my mouth water. Hot jam donuts at the footy. Wheneevr we get beaten I have to have a few donuts to help get over the pain. Others just get ****ed if they are not already.

 

[mighty mick]

i had 4 very loud uncles who used to keep coming down to the fence and seeing if i wanted food or drinks, then at half time and sometimes during the games they would put on thier wide 70s tie so they could go into the social club for a drink

 

[saggers]

well there's another similarity, my dad and uncles were always camped behind me drinking can after can. didnt venture into the social club though, they would have enjoyed being outside giving it to the opposition supporters.

was great going there knowing the roos would win just about every week.