Bat Parrot Blog

AFL Legends Luncheon raises $67K for homeless youth

Bat Parrot has again organised a memorable and heart-warming Devine AFL Legends Luncheon event - a major fundraiser for the AFL Foundation's Ladder program for homeless youth, raising an enormous $67,000 for the charity.

This event just gets bigger and better. With a sold-out corporate audience of over 400 people in the Members Dining Room at the MCG, it was a 'goalkicking legends' theme, and guests were treated to the company of some of the game's absolute greats, the announcement of the 'Top 10 Goals of All-Time', plus entertainment from comedian Andrew Startin.

The star-studded panel comprised of Leigh Matthews, Wayne Carey, Peter Daicos, Malcolm Blight and Matthew Richardson. The host was Brian Taylor.

Each of the legends voted on their favourite goals from 30 contenders dating back to 1974, and Mick McGuane etched his name in history as the kicker of the greatest goal of all-time - his famous 7-bounce run from the centre square against Carlton in 1994 at the MCG. See final top 10 list below.

               

However the star of the show was Maddy, a courageous and inspiring 19-year-old (or so) girl living in the Ladder housing and life program. This is her story.

At 16, Maddy’s family were moving and she was not invited to move with them. Maddy thought it was a joke or simply not true, until the removals van arrived. Maddy was all of a sudden homeless with nowhere to go. Discarded onto the streets without a second thought, to fend for herself.

Maddy roamed the city, Swanston St / Flinders St in Melbourne for over a year in survival mode. "Scumming" cigarettes, money, food as best she could, and hanging with the wrong crowd getting into trouble. You've seen them. So have I, and I've never really stopped to think "I wonder how she came to be in this situation?" The story continues.

Maddy became extremely sick and took herself to hospital. She screamed  "I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die!" She moved around, and within a year had lived in 19 different places, including a room (pretty much a tiny cell) that was rat infested, dark and cold. A terrible place to stay. I gather this is simply a 'holding pattern' at best and delays the inevitable with most kids.

Do you know that suicide is accountable for more deaths in Australia than road accidents? True.

After two years of being homeless, and faced with a decision to give up or fight, Maddy chose to fight. Maddy decided to move into a refuge in Fairfield as she was fed up and felt her luck was running out. She set herself goals. Her first goal was to eat three times a day. She had only managed to eat once a day at best for a long time now. This was a big decision, of her own making, and one that was not simple to achieve by any stretch. With sheer determination, and with the help and support of her boyfriend, Michael, Maddy was taking a positive step forward.

Maddy's progress was noticed and her case manager at the refuge told her about the Ladder program starting, and encouraged her to apply. She did and she was accepted. A massive lifeline, and a path to more dreams and a brighter future. I do wonder though how many kids applied. How many need this? There are only a dozen places at the moment....but thankfully, this will expand.

The Ladder program provides temporary housing units in Hoddle Street to around 12 homeless youths, plus life training, mentors and support. Many AFL footballers are actively involved as mentors. It's a shame you don't see Mitch Morton (Richmond) teaching kids to cook pasta on the 6pm news, or David Myers (Essendon) helping kids to repair bicycles, or Sarah Jamieson (Olympic 1500m runner) taking the kids to a day of lawn bowls. But that's what happens.

Maddy now has other dreams and aspirations. She has completed studying a hospitality course, amd her biggest dreams now - to attain community housing, and then, to start her own cafe and be her own boss.

My money is on Maddy, and I believe she will do it.

The AFL Legends Luncheon will return next year,  in the first week of August at the MCG, and with another exciting 'legends' theme. Thanks to all attendees who made a difference by attending, and giving further on the day via the auction, raffle and donations.

Think we add some spice into next year's event - what about a 'Rough 'n Tough Legends' theme featuring Matthews (again), Mal Brown, Glenn Archer, Barry Hall, Jonathan Brown, and Brad Scott?

Maybe. We'll see.

View Event Photo Gallery

Top 10 Goals of All-Time, as voted by AFL goalkicking legends.

1. Mick McGuane (1994, Coll v Car) 7 bounce run from the centre square
2. Peter Daicos (1991, Coll v Rich) Famous checkside from the boundary at Vic Park
3. Malcolm Blight (1976, NM v Car) 80m torpedo kick after the siren to win
4. Cyril Rioli (2009, Haw v Ess) Ducking and weaving, totally elusive effort
5. Wayne Carey (1999, NM v Ess) Spills mark, recovers, kicks left-foot checkside from boundary
6. Phil Manassa (1977, Coll v NM) Famous run from the back-flank in GF replay
7. Peter Bosustow (1981, Car v Gee) Diving smother, recovers and snaps from tight in fwd pocket
8. Gary Ablett Snr (1989, Gee v Coll) Contests pack mark, swoops on loose ball, snaps from 50m
9. Michael Mitchell (1990, Rich v Syd) Runs the length of the ground, 7 bounces, goals
10. Lance Franklin (2010, Haw v Ess), Gathers on wing, 3 bounces at speed, goals from boundary

3AW People's Choice Award Winner: Malcolm Blight

LEGENDS LUNCHEON RAISES $75k FOR AFL FOUNDATION!

Bat Parrot Marketing managed the 2009 Premiership Legends Luncheon on behalf of client Devine, raising $75,000 for the AFL Foundation's 'Ladder' Program to support homeless youth.

The event was sold out ($350 - $395 pp) with over 400 corporate guests attending the function in the Members Dining Room at the MCG, on Thursday 6th August.

   

view PHOTO GALLERY

Hosted by Channel 7's Hamish McLachlan, the Premiership Legends panel was first-class with Leigh Matthews, Michael Voss, Tony Shaw and Robert Walls voting on the Top 10 Premiership Moments of All-Time - and a special video countdown of the 'Top 10 Premiership Moments of All-Time' was a great highlight.

Guests enjoyed live entertainment from soul singer Jade MacRae, brilliant theming and special 'insider' footage of the 2008 AFL Grand FInal, as we unravelled from go to whoa the 'whole Premiership experience'!

A Main Auction featured an amazing opportunity to walk the Kokoda Trek with the Hawthorn FC in the 2010 pre-season (selling for $7,000)! Other items included a 3AW Breakfast Studio experience, HRT Hot Laps, and a signed and framed St Kilda jersey that fetched $4,200!

The Major Raffle was a huge hit, with close to 1,000 tickets sold on the day (1 for $20, 2 for $30, 5 for $50....and a book of tickets for $150). First prize was a holiday for two to Vanuatu, flying Air Vanuatu, with 7 nights accommodation at fantastic Breakas Resort.

Special thanks to all event partners including Channel 7, 3AW, Brisbane Lions FC, Hawthorn FC, Crown, Holden Racing Team, and Air Vanuatu.

The day was a huge success, and we will create another great 'Legends' theme next year...possibly 'Goalkicking Legends', 'Rough & Tough Legends'...stay tuned to the website at www.legendsluncheon.com.au and feel free to contact us if you would like to receive an invite for next year's event!

Top 10 Premiership Moments of All-Time (as voted by Leigh Matthews, Michael Voss, Tony Shaw, Robert Walls, Hamish McLachlan)

1. Wayne Harmes "Bounday Line Tap" (Carl, 1979)
2. Leo Barry "Leaping Leo's Big Grab" (Sydney Swans, 2005)
3. Barry Breen "Saints First Flag" (St Kilda, 1966)
4. Dermott Brereton "Flattened at the Bounce" (Hawthorn, 1989)
5. Brisbane Lions "Three-peat" (Brisbane Lions, 2003)
6. Alex Jesaulenko "Jesaulenko, you beauty!" (Carlton, 1970)
7. Darren Jarman "5 goal final quarter" (Adelaide, 1997)
8. Kevin Bartlett "7 goals and that celebration" (Richmond, 1980)
9. Darren Millane "Ball aloft in triumph" (Collingwood, 1990)
10. Robert DiPierdomenico "Dippers punctured lung" (Hawthorn, 1989)

2009 Australian Tennis Open: A Major Corporate Strategy Watch

On the eve of this year's tennis open championship at Rod Laver in Melbourne, there is an understandable concern brewing over ticket prices, particularly corporate. This year's prices were set in mid-2008, well before the US financial crisis hit, and well before the readjusted downturn in both China's and Australia's economic growth / activity / consumer confidence forecasts.

The tennis open has been riding a (seemingly unstoppable) wave of consumer support for years, with attendance records broken year-after-year. It's a great event, no doubt.

2009 will be interesting to watch, and may be the first real gauge to the anticipated dips in corporate spending for the year ahead.

General seating tickets have risen 9% - 29% from 2008 ($59.90 - $289.90). Ground passes remain unchanged ($19 - $29), but there are add-ons for entry to the new  'Spiegelworld' for 'Absinthe', 'Concerts', 'Family Circus' and 'A Day on the Baseline' ($19.90 each).

From a corporate point-of-view, prices have risen by up to 25%. It's expensive going in this current climate, and sales are not good. The main corporate tickets include Bronze ($3,990 each), Silver ($4,990), Silver Premium ($9,450), Gold ($5,990) and Gold Premium ($10,450). Basically, the 'Premium' options include buffet dining for all 25 sessions, the others don't, just the lower-tier padded seat for all 25 sessions and access to purchase dining from The Oval or Australian Open Dining Restaurant.

The problem has been compounded by a new trend being followed by the major sports - to assign a select number of authorised 'on-sellers' to sell their corporate packages. The AFL, VRC, and the Australian Grand Prix Corp  have been the instigators. These major sports are believed to meet regularly about "strategic marketing" initiatives.

Whilst there are obvious merits to this strategy - to control brand, control pricing, control distribution, and reduce fraud, this augurs well for a free-spending economic climate. In such a climate, demand for these tickets has outweighed supply.

In 2009, things could be different - a select number of appointed 'on-sellers' (there are three for the tennis this year) may simply not have the reach to sell all the tickets. So what then?

Well, two things possibly. One - you'll see some lower tier sections of Rod Laver Arena empty. Two - you'll see some corporate tickets for sale at a reduced price, this is already happening.

The strategy to limit corporate packages to authorised 'on-sellers' is a good one, but it is not working properly.

The AFL appoint three or so 'on-sellers' (plus their AFL Clubs) to sell their highly-priced 'Centre Square' function for the AFL Grand Final. Tickets are "set" at $1,995 pp. The lowest offered price for the 2008 Grand Final was believed to be as low as $700.

Interestingly, a move by the AFL to take control of more of the Club's allocation of Grand Final tickets for 2009 is set to be delayed for a year...due to the current conomic climate. Hmm, shouldn't they actually be picking up the slack for Clubs in such a climate (save that for another blog!)??!!

The VRC have a similar strategy to their famous Melbourne Cup Carnival event. They appoint around 15 authorised 'on-sellers'. This is a more sensible number - it's a big market and there are a lot of genuine 'on-sellers' that contribute well to this market.

It is wise to enforce control of your product, that's for sure. Unwise to limit your reach. Companies that are asked to take an unreasonably high level of exposure to sell your product will either go bust, look to engage other 'on-sellers' on their behalf, or be forced to sell tickets at a discount in order to minimise the loss.

The problem with the Corporate Hospitality industry is there is no such industry, no association exists, there is no self-regulation or membership. There has been talk amongst major on-sellers for one such association to be established, and I believe the 'Australian Corporate Hospitality Association' as a company has been registered.

This is the first step towards creating a more trusted Corporate Hospitality industry, where hospitality companies will have to qualify to earn association accreditation. The industry will become self-regulating, and then more proactive and useful discusions can take place between the rights holders and Corporate Hospitality Association members, for a more sensible strategy on corporate ticketing. Each needs the other in order to be successful. This is more the case now in such an uncertain economic climate.