Community Cup

Community Cup
Action from the 2007 Community Cup
Genre	Celebrity sports match, Charity event
Date(s)	AFL split round, June
Frequency	annual
Location(s)	Henson Park, Marrickville, New South Wales (2012-), Victoria Park, Abbotsford, Victoria (2017-), Elsternwick Park, Elsternwick, Victoria (2009-2016) Junction Oval, St Kilda (1998-2008) Ross Gregory Oval, St Kilda (1997)
Years active	20 (includes recess in 2008)
Inaugurated	1997
Participants	3RRR/PBS FM Megahertz, Rockdogs
Attendance	23,000 (record 2007)
Organised by	Reclink
Website
http://www.communitycup.org.au

The Community Cup is an annual charity event held in Melbourne (and since 2012 - Sydney), Australia which features a celebrity Australian rules football match. It is noted for its cult following, celebrity appearances and media profile.

It has been played since 1997 between social teams composed of radio station employees (Megahertz) and musicians (Rockdogs) dating back to the early 1990s. It is currently held during the Australian Football League (AFL) split round. 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.

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.