I also live down under, it's an absolute rip off in Australia.
Here's an article Craig Foster wrote which I found very good -
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/australi ... me-we-love
I have to pay $200 just for rego', which isn't too bad, but for poorer families like mine it's crazy. If I want the team shorts and socks, I'll have to pay another $40 all up. Then they sell merchandise which is a rip, give us a free bag/jacket or something, where's the generosity?
That's just for my local amateur team, if I want to play rep'/semi-pro, the team rego' costs $1050, then another $600 if you want to play in the pre-season cup. You have to make your own way to all the games, on your own petrol, no team bus. You don't even know if your going to play a full game in the whole season. I know someone who payed all the rego', and played only one game the whole season, and sat on the bench the other 15 or so games (sucks to be a reserve keeper).
It's ridiculous. I have to pay $200+ for my team, and we only play a 14 round comp + semi's/grand final.