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The Club (Australian TV series)

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The Club was a short-lived Australian reality television show about an Australian rules football sporting side, the Hammerheads, which was screened the Seven Network in 2002. It was seen as a way for Seven to stay involved in football after losing the broadcast rights to the Australian Football League after the 2001 season.

The show featured a handpicked team from a rabble of has-been amateur footballers and coached by former VFL/AFL legend David Rhys-Jones which played against various Victorian football sides from the Western Region Football League 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 side each week by voting to keep their favourite players in the side.

The show was considered trailblazing and generated a cult following, with several crowds to 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 claim the flag in their first - and only - season.

Despite its success, it did not return to television.

Controversy

The show also generated some controversy and publicity with certain incidents. 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.

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