Collingwood Magpies Face Intense Criticism Over 'Money Grab' Will and Testament Letter
Collingwood Football Club has been heavily criticised by Australian Rules football fans after a controversial letter encouraging supporters to include the club in their wills was shared on social media. The image, posted by an X user, shows correspondence from the club detailing its 'bequests' process, where fans are asked to leave a financial gift to the Magpies after they die.
Social Media Outrage Over Insensitive Correspondence
The photo shared online was captioned: 'Um. My mum got this today. Are they serious? How much money do they need?' This sparked immediate backlash from supporters across various platforms. One X user wrote: 'Any opportunity for a money grab. It's gross,' while another added: 'Well done Collingwood. Way to alienate your elderly supporters. This is such a bad look for the club.'
A particularly blunt comment came from a rival supporter who stated: 'This is the most embarrassing thing I've ever seen a football club do, and I go for North Melbourne.' The criticism highlights growing concern about the appropriateness of such direct financial appeals to loyal fans.
Details of the Controversial Bequests Program
The letter in question outlines Collingwood's 'side by side forever' program, which encourages supporters to 'leave a lasting mark on the club you love' through testamentary gifts. The note reads: 'Your support helps ensure every Magpie — past, present and future — stands together in strength, spirit and unity.'
This approach has raised questions about the ethics of sports clubs soliciting donations from wills, particularly when targeting older supporters who may feel pressured to contribute to organisations they have supported throughout their lives.
Not an Isolated Practice in Australian Sports
Collingwood is not alone in implementing such programs. Several other Australian Football League clubs have similar bequest initiatives, including the Sydney Swans, Essendon Bombers, and GWS Giants. The practice has also spread to the National Rugby League, with the Brisbane Broncos pioneering their program in 2020.
Other NRL teams like the Manly Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys now offer supporters opportunities to 'leave a legacy.' The Sea Eagles' website states: 'Your bequest supports the Sea Eagles Foundation, helping to fund our Junior Development Pathways teams.'
Growing Backlash and Club Response
The recent social media exposure has intensified scrutiny of these programs, with many questioning whether sports clubs should be directly soliciting testamentary gifts from their fan bases. Critics argue that such approaches can appear exploitative, particularly when targeting vulnerable demographics.
As of now, Collingwood Football Club has not issued any public response to the mounting criticism surrounding their bequests correspondence. The silence has only fueled further discussion about the appropriateness of such fundraising methods in professional sports.
The controversy raises broader questions about how sports organisations balance financial sustainability with ethical fundraising practices, particularly when engaging with their most dedicated supporters.
