Number-one ticket holder

A number-one ticket holder is a person who holds membership ticket #1 of a particular sporting club. Possession of the number one ticket is largely symbolic. The tradition of having a number-one ticket holder is mainly observed in Australia, and originated with the Australian Football League (AFL), the elite professional competition of Australian rules football.[citation needed] To increase the club's visibility and exposure, the ticket is often presented to a famous person or former athlete.

Australian Football League

The Australian Football League is the premier Australian rules football competition in Australia. Most clubs nominate a single number one ticket holder each year.

Club Ticket holder Ref.
Adelaide Football Club Guy Sebastian (2024–present)
Brisbane Lions Dan Anstey and Abby Coleman (2023–present)
Carlton Football Club Leisel Jones (2023–present) and Stephen Kernahan (2025–present)
Collingwood Football Club None
Essendon Football Club Kim Brennan (2017–present)
Fremantle Football Club Kevin Parker (2021–present)
Geelong Football Club Rebecca Maddern (2016–present)
Gold Coast Football Club Bruce Coulson and Jill Mathieson (2019–present)
Greater Western Sydney Giants Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy (2025–present)
Hawthorn Football Club Emma Race (2019–present) and John Kennedy Jr. (2017–present)
Melbourne Football Club Robert Flower (2011–?)
North Melbourne Football Club Ricky Ponting (2006–present)
Port Adelaide Football Club Teresa Palmer (2009–?)
Richmond Football Club Mick Molloy (2013–?), Ashleigh Barty (AFLW) (2020–present)
St Kilda Football Club Eric Bana (2010–present)
Sydney Swans Jason Kimberley (2025–present)
West Coast Eagles Jack Cowin (2025–present)
Western Bulldogs Alan Johnstone (2014–present)

National Rugby League

The National Rugby League is the premier rugby league competition in Australasia. Known dates are included in brackets.

ClubTicket holder
Brisbane BroncosPaul Tarlington (2014–24)
Andrew Fraser ("until he left politics" in 2012)
Kevin Rudd (2013–14)
Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsDon Burke
Canberra RaidersMark Webber (2010)
Brad Haddin (2005, 2009)
Bob Hawke (1984, 1989)
Cronulla-Sutherland SharksElle Macpherson (1994)

Cathy Freeman
Peter Costello
Scott Morrison (2016)

Gold Coast TitansNone
Manly Warringah Sea EaglesGladys Berejiklian (2018)
Melbourne StormMolly Meldrum
Julia Gillard
Josh Frydenberg (2019)
Newcastle KnightsNone
New Zealand WarriorsPeter "The Mad Butcher" Leitch
North Queensland CowboysNone
Parramatta EelsDanny Green
Penrith PanthersMark Geyer (2012–2016)
South Sydney RabbitohsRussell Crowe Phil Jamieson
Anthony Albanese
St. George Illawarra DragonsJohn Howard
Sydney RoostersMalcolm Turnbull
Wests TigersBinet Homes
Lee Hagipantelis (2014–15)

A-League

The A-League is a professional men's soccer league in Australia and New Zealand.

ClubTicket holderRef.
Central Coast MarinersJulie Goodwin (2016–)
Melbourne Heart FCJon Bon Jovi (2010; international)
Melbourne Victory FCGeorge Calombaris (2015)
Perth Glory FC Lucy Sage (2011–2012)

Dawn Fraser (2014–2015)

Stephen Coniglio (2021–)

ANZ Championship

The ANZ Championship was the premier netball league in Australia and New Zealand that existed between 2008 and 2016.

ClubTicket holderRef.
Queensland FirebirdsAnna Bligh (2008)

National Basketball League

The National Basketball League (NBL) is the premier professional basketball league in Australia and New Zealand.

ClubTicket holderRef.
Sydney KingsDominic Perrottet (2021)

Suncorp Super Netball

Suncorp Super Netball is the premier professional netball league in Australia. The inaugural season commenced in February 2017.

ClubTicket holderRef.
Melbourne VixensAnthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Jane McDonald (2020)
West Coast Fever Nadia Mitsopoulos (2020)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Your AFL club's No.1 ticket holder". Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "Guy Sebastian announced as AFC No. 1 Ticketholder". afc.com.au. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  3. ↑ Lions, Brisbane (March 2023). "Brisbane Lions on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Stephen Kernahan receives new accolade". Carlton Football Club. Australian Football League. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Number One Ticket Holder". Essendon Football Club. 25 March 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL Peacock No 1 at Penney Wight camp". Canberra Times. Vol. 59, no. 18, 098. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 April 1985. p. 38. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ Robinson, Chris (22 May 2021). "Fremantle Dockers announce Tame Impala's Kevin Parker as new No.1 ticketholder". PerthNow. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Maddern named No. 1 ticket holder". geelongcats.com.au. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "SUNS announce #1 Ticket Holders". goldcoastfc.com.au. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  10. ↑ "Giants announce Melissa Doyle as number one ticket holder" (Press release). Greater Western Sydney Giants. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "Starc and Healy Announced as GIANTS' Next Number One Ticket Holders". GWS Giants. Australian Football League. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "Letter to members: No.1 ticket holders". Hawthorn Football Club. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Flower named No.1 ticket holder". melbournefc.com.au. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  14. ↑ Wortman, Jeff (2 April 2009). "Who's your No.1?". Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  15. ↑ "Teresa Palmer Power's No. 1". portadelaidefc.com.au. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  16. ↑ Lane, Samantha (2 January 2008). "Riding the roller-coaster". The Age. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Santic Port No. 1". The Advertiser. 25 March 2006. p. 106.
  18. ↑ "AFL 2020: Ash Barty Richmond, premiership cup presenters, Brendan Fevola, AFL Grand Final, Geelong vs Richmond". Fox Sports Australia. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "sport Fun, competition at Melbourne Junior Carnival". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 103, no. 44. New South Wales, Australia. 7 August 1998. p. 46. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ↑ Tullberg, Julie (25 June 2010). "Actor Eric Bana named Saints No. 1 ticketholder". Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  21. ↑ "2025 Number 1 Ticket Holder: Jason Kimberley". Sydney Swans. Australian Football League. 17 February 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  22. ↑ "Johnstone named no.1 ticket holder". Western Bulldogs. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  23. ↑ Julia's Number One AFL.com.au 2 March 2011
  24. ↑ Chenoweth, Neil (5 August 2005). "Lachlan's legacy: $560m lost on Super League". The Australian Financial Review. South Sydney Rabbitohs. Archived from the original on 14 March 2006. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  25. ↑ Murphy, Mitchell (5 October 2007). "Bid to take over Broncos". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  26. ↑ Heming, Wayne (3 March 2008). "Broncos recruit powerful player in Rudd". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  27. ↑ Flynn, Michael (4 December 2009). "Who's Number One?". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  28. ↑ Ludlow, Mark; Cranston, Matthew (1 October 2015). "Queenslanders face off in battle for league's best". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  29. ↑ Kelly, Joe (21 August 2013). "Tony Abbott scores at Kevin Rudd's home ground with $5m for Broncos upgrade". The Australian. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  30. ↑ Masters, Roy (13 August 2014). "Brisbane Broncos cross the line in political divide". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  31. ↑ Hind, Richard (23 March 2010). "Webber the formula for success". The Age. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  32. ↑ Haddin is Canberra's No.1 DailyTelegraph 13 December 2008
  33. ↑ "Record impresses Hawke". The Canberra Times. Vol. 58, no. 17, 712. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 March 1984. p. 27. Retrieved 14 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. ↑ Ricky Stuart and the Canberra Raiders remember Bob Hawke Canberra Times. 17 May 2019
  35. ↑ "National Museum of Australia – Footy fans". The National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Being No. 1 means a lot more than just the ticket". 29 March 2008.
  37. ↑ "Scott Morrison the '#1 Ticket Holder'". sharks.com.au. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  38. 1 2 "Gillard is Storm's No.1 ticket holder » League Unlimited".
  39. ↑ Frydenberg #1 ticket holder, 9 October 2019, retrieved 17 March 2021
  40. ↑ "Warriors' success draws new fans". 25 September 2008.
  41. ↑ "Dragons beat heat ... And Eels". 15 February 2010.
  42. ↑ Glover, Ben (29 February 2012). "Mark Geyer says Penrith star Michael Gordon is the next Billy Slater and should play fullback for the Panthers". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  43. ↑ Logue, Matt (8 September 2016). "Mark Geyer calls on Penrith fans to show their passion and turn up for the NRL elimination final". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  44. ↑ "Even the prime minister had to pull strings for a ticket to the Allianz Stadium opener". 2 September 2022.
  45. ↑ "We're for Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  46. ↑ "Brydens Lawyers commit to Wests Tigers". weststigers.com.au. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  47. ↑ "Julie Goodwin unveiled as Mariners Number 1 Ticket Holder | Central Coast Mariners". Ccmariners.com.au. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  48. ↑ "Jon Bon Jovi named Melbourne Heart's No.1 international ticket holder". Fox Sports. 24 July 2010.
  49. ↑ "Melbourne Victory's No. 1 ticket-holder George Calombaris pumped for grand final". The Age. 15 May 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023.
  50. ↑ "LUCY SAGE NAMED NUMBER ONE TICKET HOLDER". Perth Glory FC. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  51. ↑ "It's A Wrap: The People's Game". Perth Glory FC. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  52. ↑ "Coniglio confirmed as club's #1 Ticket Holder". Perth Glory FC. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  53. ↑ "Brand New Queensland Firebirds". Australian Netball. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  54. ↑ "Premier Perrottet becomes Sydney Kings No.1 ticket holder – Hoops Capital Academy". Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  55. ↑ "Melbourne Vixens name inaugural #1 ticket holders". Melbourne Vixens. March 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  56. ↑ "West Coast Fever announce No.1 ticket holder for 2020 season". West Coast Fever. Retrieved 25 May 2021.