Interesting post. I also recently had an interaction with the club that I wasn't sure I would post about here or not.
To preface this, I am a Maurice Rioli member with GF guarantee (7 years) and a Full AFL member with Club Support. I am a 27 Platinum member with RFC and about 19 years as an AFL member.
When I received my membership renewal, which is simply a roll-over every year, I noticed a $250 odd increase on last years cost.
I rang the club to query this and was told that to remain as a Maurice Rioli club member I had to hold an adult game day membership. I asked when this was communicated to members and the person I was talking to couldn't confirm (I neve rreceived any correspondance). The question remained, why would I purchase another game day membership when a) I already hold one with my AFL, b) I wasn't advised of this apparent change, c) a portion of my Club Support money goes directly to the club and d) when pushed, they were quite quick to say they would change the membership option to an Allanah & Madeline game membership @ $55.00 instead. I took this option.
I love this club and will forever be a member but I certainly didnt like the underhanded way they went about this.
disco this does not suprise me in the least as it is comparable to what happened to me some years ago
I too am a gold club support AFL member
I had richmond reserved seat memberships
They brought in the grand final guarantee ( which obviously you still have)
I too paid this for a few years
Then one year i was told there would be no more grand final guarantee and I could upgrade to MRC.
Even though i questioned it at the time as felt it was quite unfair that those of us who had been paying for the guarantee were now going to be forced into a more expensive package. However i went along with it as I always do with this club and got 5 inaugural MRC packages which cost a lot more than the GF guarantee.
Then imagine my surprise when we finally made a GF in 2017 I read on these boards that quite a few people still had the guarantee!! despite me being told it was no longer going to exist
And on top of this I also learnt in 2017 that premiership circle seated people also got the GF guarantee and I had those reserved seats at the time but was told they were not guaranteed at the time
And then to top all of this off this year i was excluded from using my 38 year AFL club support membership to get a seat in the members due to my having a RFC membership in my own name despite that having a completely different bar code to my AFL membership!!!
So i can fully believe what has happened to you
I do anything for this club but over the years I have often felt they treat the average member quite poorly at times