Community Cup

The Community Cup (known as the Reclink Community Cup since 2009 under naming rights) is an annual charity event which features a celebrity mixed-gender Australian rules football match. It is noted for its cult following, celebrity appearances and media profile. First run in Melbourne in 1997, since 2012 it has expanded nationally, being hosted in every state capital including Sydney (2012-), Adelaide and Perth/Fremantle (2015-), Hobart and Brisbane (2016-).

Its origins date back to the early 1990s in Melbourne with the formation of social teams composed of radio station employees (Megahertz) and musicians (Rockdogs). The first match was played in Melbourne and was later played each year during the Australian Football League (AFL) split round. The Melbourne event remains the most popular, attracting a crowd of around 14,000 each year and raising around $250,000 for charities.

In contrast to today's strict AFL codes of conduct the Community Cup is promoted as embracing grassroots community amateur football and as a result it is promoted as "kid and dog friendly" with quarter and half time pitch invasions for traditional kick-to-kick. Social alcohol, smoking and even streaking are tolerated. Despite crowds of up to 23,000 people, it has been a trouble free and casual event.

History

The teams involved in the cup date back to the 1990s. Espy Rockdogs were founded in 1990 as a social footy team to play against Chasers. The team played in a charity match known as the "Footy Mouth Cup" against the Tote Hotel in 1993, raising $500.

The first "Community Cup" was held in 1997 when 3RRR Program Manager James Young proposed the creation of the 3RRR and PBS FM Megahertz to play against the Rockdogs and raise money for St Kilda's Sacred Heart Mission.

The first match organised was held at Ross Gregory Oval in St Kilda. Drawing a crowd of over 2,000 people it was successful in raising over A$6,000.

Due to the interest generated, Sacred Heart Mission assumed its organisation and a larger venue, Junction Oval, a former Victorian Football League stadium was chosen to accommodate the larger crowds.

The 2005 event packed the Junction Oval to capacity, attracting 23,000 people. In 2006, despite the installation of temporary fencing to accommodate more spectators, the stadium was once more packed to capacity.

The 2007 event introduced an entry charge $5 for the first time, previous events were by gold coin donation. Despite the entry fee, a similarly large crowd attended.

In May 2008 Sacred Heart Mission withdrew due to increased costs of running it. RRR tried to keep the event alive but there was not enough time to secure a charity partner to host the event on the planned date and much to the disappointment of the St Kilda community, the event was shelved.

The cup secured a new charity in 2009, Reclink, and it was moved to Elsternwick Park, held on 21 June. A positive online feedback poll result saw news radio stations ABC Local Radio and Radio National cover the match for the first time. With the new venue, the event took a hit in its attendance, drawing just 8,000, however in 2010 attendances rebounded to over 10,000.

The 2011 match drew 12,000 people and raised over $120,000.

In 2012, the match was held outside of Melbourne for the first time, playing a match at Henson Park in Marrickville, Sydney.

In 2015, the Community Cup launched in Adelaide (featuring the mighty Rockatoos versus the Anchors) and in Perth, while 2016 sees the game also launch in Hobart and Brisbane.

In 2017, the Reclink Community Cup was held at Victoria Park in Abbotsford with Spiderbait and The Peep Tempel headlining the event. Courtney Barnett and Remi supported.

The 2019 cup was held at Victoria Park, with Magic Dirt headlining, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the cup.

The match

The football match features two teams of non-footballing local communities: the 3RRR/3PBS Megahertz, which consists of personnel from Melbourne's two main community radio stations, and the Espy Rock Dogs, a mix of former and present musicians and bar staff from the Esplanade Hotel. The Rockdog's team president is local satirist Fred Negro, who each year includes the community cup weekend in his weekly pub strip for the Inpress magazine. The Megahertz wear red and white, and the Rockdogs wear black, red white and yellow guernseys. The match is usually umpired by a mix of comedians and notable music industry people, costumed according to a chosen theme, such as 'Do You Love Me?' in 2011 as a tribute to Nick Cave.

Individual awards

The match is followed by the presentation of a number of medals named after recently deceased musicians, including Dave McComb, Paul Hester, Grant McLennan, Tim Hemensley, Norm Fagg, Andrew Entsch and Stuart Speed. The Dave Taranto Medal, named for a former PBS-RRR comic presenter, is awarded to the "most silly Megahertz". The only living medal is the Stephen Hurley Medal, named for a member of the first Rockdogs side in 1993 who broke his spine in November that year and now uses a wheelchair. The Steve Connolly Medal is awarded for the best on ground, and is presented by ''The Age'' sports writer Rohan Connolly in memory of his brother.

Celebrity appearances

Celebrities to have participated in a match include:
* Angus Sampson (2003)Sounds indigenous
from The Age 19 June 2003
* Samantha Lane (2003)
* Rupert Betheras (2009)
* Mick Harvey (2010- regular)
* Dave Larkin of Dallas Crane (2010)
* Paul Kelly (2011 Rockdogs coach)
* Tex Perkins (2014 Rockdogs coach)
* Urthboy (2014)
* Jude Bolton (2014)
* The Meanies (Link and Wally)
* Tim Rogers (regular for many years)Rockdogs suffer mega hurts as music industry’s Reclink Community Cup returns to Melbourne
by Tim McGlone for The Guardian 20 June 2022
* Brian Nankervis (played and umpired - 2012)
* Kram (regular for many years)
* Peter Rowsthorn (player and umpire)23 years of the Reclink Community Cup: the media v musos
by
Steph Harmon for The Guardian 24 June 2016
* Anthony Albanese (2015)
* Simona Castricum (2017)‘Rogers, ya TRY HARD’: Why the Reclink Community Cup rules, according to its legendary veterans
fromp Beat.com.au 14 June 2022
* Ashley Naylor (2019)
* Sam Pang
* Courtney Barnett
* Dan Sultan
* Penny Wong
* Adalita
* Felix Riebl (2021)
* Peter Malinauskas (2022)
* Kyam Maher (2022)
* Katrine Hildyard (2022)
* Steven Marshall (2022)
* Tammy Franks (2022)
* Chad Cornes (2022)
* Nathan Bassett (2022)
* Nikki Gore (2022)
* Tory Shepherd (2022)
* Jessica Braithwaite
* Peter Goers (2022)

Entertainment

The match itself is accompanied by a two-to-three-hour-long concert, along with entertainment at half time, and usually sees notable acts volunteering their time to entertain the Community Cup audience. Notable performances include Paul Kelly, TISM and Magic Dirt (2004), one-off reunion concerts by Rebecca's Empire and Weddings Parties Anything (2005) and Dave Graney (2006) and Mach Pelican (2007). Paul Kelly returned again to accompany Renée Geyer on harmonica while she sang "Waltzing Matilda" at the 2006 Cup, with state sports minister and former VFL footballer Justin Madden tossing the coin to decide which team was kicking for which goal.

In 2009, live acts included Cosmic Psychos, Kram, Doll Squad, Jordie Lane, and The Scared Weird Little Guys. The 2010 line-up included The Blackeyed Susans, Money For Rope, Little Freddie and The Pops, Living End, and Nick Barker and the Reptiles. Streakers, both male and female, also made appearances.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Press release for the 2010 Cup on the Reclink websitePress release for the 2009 Cup on the Reclink websiteOfficial Site
* ttp://realfooty.com.au/news/news/charity-match-the-ticket/2007/06/27/1182623991496.html Charity Match the ticketfrom realfooty.com.au
2007 cup photos2006 cup photos2005 cup photos2004 cup photos

Charity events in Australia
Australian rules football competitions in Victoria (Australia)