- Melbourne Cricket Club is one of the most exclusive in Australia
- Has a lengthy waiting list for entry and a strict dress code at the venue
- Four simple words could allow men to bypass that dress code
Access to the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Club areas of the MCG comes with strict dress conditions, but some woke wording might have paved the way for blokes to ditch the collared shirts for good.
Membership of the Melbourne Cricket Club gives full access to the Members’ Reserve at the MCG for all AFL matches, the Boxing Day Test and other major cricket and football events.
It is highly exclusive, with more than 136,000 people on the waiting list and waiting times of up to 25–30 years for full membership.
For the 2025/26 season, the annual full membership subscription for metropolitan adults is $897, plus a $1,210 entrance fee paid in instalments.
Along with the lengthy waiting list and eye-watering membership fees, strict dress codes are also mandated.
Men aged 17 and over must wear a collared shirt at all times in the Members’ Reserve, paired with neat trousers and closed‑toe footwear.
The Melbourne Cricket Club is one of the most exclusive in Australia with over 136,000 on the waiting list
There is a mandatory dress code for all men who enter the MCC Members areas, including wearing a collared shirt
Women are expected to wear a dress, skirt, or tailored trousers with a blouse or top, avoiding athletic wear, beachwear, ripped clothing and excessive logos.
Athletic shorts, sneakers, sandals such as thongs or Ugg boots, and revealing clothing are strictly prohibited in all MCC member areas.
But one man has discovered a loophole in the wording of the dress code on the MCC website.
‘Please note: Members and their guests who identify as male and are aged 17 years and over must wear a collared shirt, even if worn under a collared sweater or jacket, at all times in the Reserve,’ the website reads.
‘This continues to be the major reason for male members and guests being denied admission.’
That wording enabled one man to walk freely into the MCC Members area without a collared shirt simply by uttering four simple words.
‘I identify as a female,’ he told security blocking his path.
News Corp has reported that MCC staff reluctantly had to let the member in, without a collar, but will tighten the wording to prevent it happening again.
Wording on the MCC website has created a loophole that can allow men to bypass the dress code
But it is not the first time gender has been used to bypass the strict dress code.
In 2022, a Twitter [now X] social media user named Barnacle Bill asked the same question.
‘I was born a male and now identify as a woman. Do I have to wear a collar?’ they asked.
While the post was likely tongue in cheek, the MCC social media team responded.
‘We acknowledge that our current dress standards do not adequately accommodate for all gender identities,’ the response read.
‘We are reviewing our policy to establish more inclusive guidelines. You are not required to wear a collar in the Reserve.’
It comes after the MCC Foundation announced in June that it had partnered with is pleased to partner with Proud 2 Play to support inclusion and participation of LGBTQIA+ people in sport.
‘Sport should be inclusive, safe, and accessible, we’re excited to help break down barriers and change the experience that LGBTQIA+ people have,’ the club said in a statement.
