Carlton has come under fire for charging $15.90 for entry into their scratch match with St Kilda on Thursday morning.
While members and kids were granted free entry, the Blues had a gate fee for the rest of the 2,000 strong crowd.
Journalist Sam McClure took aim at the club’s hierarchy for the decision.
“I want to be clear about this because I must be missing something and there’s no way Brian Cook, one of the most experienced chief executives the game has ever seen, and Luke Sayers, who ran PwC for a decade, there’s no way known those two men knowingly charged members to come into the ground,” McClure told Sportsday.
“Let’s do the maths quickly, there were 2,000 people there. I’m going to say conservatively half of them were members. Of the 1,000 that weren’t members, let’s say half (were kids), they got in for free.
“Ultimately you’re charging 500 people, which is what? $7,500?
“Something doesn’t add up here. There’s no way known the Carlton Football Club, one of the richest clubs in the history of the competition, is trying to get ahead of everyone else, by making $7,500.”
Sydney and GWS are also charging $15 for entry to their practice match this week, while tickets to Geelong versus Richmond are $10 on Saturday.
Collingwood and Hawthorn’s clash at Morwell Recreation Reserve on Friday is charging gold coin donation for entry.
“Essendon let everyone in for free yesterday. They’re as big a club as Carlton are and Carlton are trying to make $7,500? Nah. Someone has made a blue there,” McClure continued.
“There’s no way known they sat around a table and said that would be a good idea.
“$15 to watch a half-power Carlton take on a half-power St Kilda in front of no one at a ground that’s being rebuilt? Give me a break.”
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy added: “Most people at Carlton who sat around a table and decided to charge people $15 would be embarrassed.”
Port Adelaide are allowing free entry for their clash with Gold Coast, while Fremantle and West Coast’s game is behind closed doors.