''The Club'' is an
Australian reality television show about an
Australian rules football
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
sporting side, the ''Hammerheads'', which was screened on the
Seven Network in 2002 for one series. It was seen as a way for Seven to stay involved in football after losing the broadcast rights to the
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...
after the 2001 season.
The show featured a handpicked team of amateur footballers coached by former
VFL/AFL legend
David Rhys-Jones
David Rhys-Jones (born 16 June 1962) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Football Club and the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Rhys-Jones's reputation as a footballer is somewhat sullied by ...
which played against various
Victorian football sides from the
Western Region Football League
The Western Region Football League is an Australian rules football semi-professional league, based in the western suburbs of Melbourne, for both seniors and juniors.
History
The league was formed in 1931 as the "Footscray District Football L ...
second division, following the trials and tribulations of its players.
Unlike normal clubs, the home audience were able to influence who was selected in the team each week by voting to keep their favourite players in the side. Viewers also got to vote on many of the club's other key aspects including its name, coach, captain and song.
The show was considered trailblazing and generated a cult following, with several crowds at games featuring the Hammerheads pushing 5,000 spectators and many claiming the Hammerheads as their second favourite sporting team. After finishing the regular season in third position, the Hammerheads went on to win the
Grand Final and claim the flag in their first – and only – season.
Despite the show's success, it did not return to television.
Controversy
The show also achieved its share of controversy and publicity. The Hammerheads attempted to have a woman,
Debbie Lee, play on their team in competition games but were ultimately stopped by the league. There were also criticisms of personal attacks by coach Rhys-Jones on players.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Club, The
Seven Sport
2000s Australian reality television series
Television shows set in Victoria (Australia)
2002 Australian television series debuts
2002 Australian television series endings
Australian sports television series