'This is shameful': AFL club under fire over 'disgusting' job ad
The Melbourne Football Club has hit back after being heavily criticised over an advertisement seeking volunteers to work for the AFL club.
Social media users slammed the Demons after they put out an ad seeking unpaid workers to contribute to their Football Technology Pathway Progam from December 2020 to October 2021.
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Melbourne's ad description lists the contact hours for 3-4 successful applicants as varying from 10-25 hours per week.
“An exciting opportunity has become available for 3-4 individuals to volunteer within the club’s football department for the 2021 season,” the advertisement read.
“Reporting to the football analysis team, the successful individuals will contribute to a broad range of areas within all four of our teams in the AFL, VFL, AFLW and VFLW.
“This program would best suit students or graduates from either an exercise and sports science, information technology, statistical and multimedia background, who have a strong interest and understanding of AFL football.”
The ad has sparked outrage on social media, with the unpaid 11-month stint and conditions of up to 25 hours a week labelled "disgusting".
Hey @melbournefc - don’t do this.
Do not ask people to work for you for free for 10-25 hours per week in your football department.
That is disgusting. https://t.co/6WuTWkywfW pic.twitter.com/v3vGNZMtiy— Paige Cardona (@paigecardona) December 1, 2020
Yes, the soft cap is coming down, but this is NOT the way to get around it. Mind-blowing any professional organisation could try and get away with this https://t.co/92LvVENbiO
— Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) December 1, 2020
20 hours of volunteer work a week , you can’t be serious
— jonnybgood ‘17🏆 ‘19🏆’20 🏆 (@jonny17bgood) December 1, 2020
Are the people agreeing with this blatant rip-off from a pro sports team the same people that ring up talkback radio and call young people lazy because they don't take opportunities? This is shameful from a multi-million dollar industry.
— Clinton Moore (@clintonjlmoore) December 1, 2020
This is absolute BS that should not be allowed by law. It is not volunteer work.
This happened all too often in the physical therapy area of football, because, you know, aren't we all fans??— VisciousHarpy (@visciousharpy) December 1, 2020
It’s pathetic. Apart from the lack moral and social aspects, how much value, reliability and commitment is the club going to get out of such a large volunteer group. Amateur hour.
— Little Cardigan (@Littlecardigan) December 1, 2020
absolute rort
— Sean O'Neill (@shaahorn) December 1, 2020
Even worse, it's Casual hours, as they'd vary depending upon the fixture. They're fishing for loyalty from volunteers to support players and coaches who are becoming multi-millionaires.
— Kent W (@Kentessential) December 1, 2020
Yikes!! Volunteering Australia recommends no more than 15 hrs per week 🤯
— Emmy (@conciergemaree) December 1, 2020
Melbourne ad “poorly worded”
Responding to the wave of online backlash, the Demons admitted their advertisement was "poorly worded".
Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert explained that applicants weren't expected to work over the entire 11 months, and insisted that hours were flexible.
“The scope and intent of the program was to keep the time frame flexible, to allow us to accommodate students at any month of the proposed period,” Pert told the Herald Sun.
“To be clear, this pathway program does not run for a total of 11 months. Instead, the duration of the program is predicated on the student’s individual course requirements and no student’s hours will exceed the amount they need to complete their university unit.
“The club accepts that there were elements of the advertisement that were worded poorly and lacked clarity, and we will ensure this does not occur again.”
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