Melbourne Chargers Strip Down For A Night Of Sport, Sweat, And Fundraising
The Melbourne Chargers are baring more than their team pride this weekend as they hit the stage for In the Flesh, the club’s biggest annual fundraiser. It’s all going down this Saturday night at Sircuit, just weeks before the team flies to New Zealand for the Purchase Cup, the inclusive trans-Tasman rugby tournament.
In the Flesh isn’t your standard sausage sizzle. Players will be shaking, stripping, and showing plenty of skin in choreographed routines designed to raise money for travel, gear, and support staff. According to Qnews, the fundraiser helps cover everything from physio costs to oversized luggage full of rugby balls and body pads.
“This is how we get to tournaments,” says club president Chris Pezet.
“Fundraisers like this make it possible not just for the players, but for the coaches, medics, and everyone behind the scenes.”
For a grassroots sports club, the expenses pile up quickly, especially when international flights and equipment come into play. “We’re not just funding jerseys. We’re making sure our whole community can take part, regardless of income,” Chris adds. The Chargers also run a player support fund to help cover costs for those who need a hand.
The Return of Holi Dae Knight
Long-time Chargers ally and drag performer Holi Dae Knight is back to host the event. “I first got involved with the Chargers in 2015. Later, we came up with this idea for a drag number as a surprise— and boom, ‘The Chargettes’ were born,” she says.
Holi helped produce past In the Flesh events, including a 2018 “red light district” theme, before the team flew to Amsterdam. This year, she’s ready to shake things up once again with the team.
What To Expect on the Night
Forget subtle. The theme is “sport,” and it’s exactly what you think. Rugby kits, baseball uniforms, jockstraps, and more. “If it’s sporty, you’ll see it,” Chris promises.
In the Flesh mixes theatre with community grit, part cheeky entertainment, part serious effort to keep one of the country’s most inclusive sporting clubs running strong.
If you’re in Melbourne and up for a night of sweat, skin, and support, this is the one.
