AFL reveals new all-time club membership record

The 2022 AFL season has seen clubs record memberships, amounting to nearly 1.2 million club members, with one in 22 Australians a member of an AFL club.

AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan today announced a new all-time AFL Club membership record of 1,190,671 members, exceeding the record of 1,113,441 that was set last year - representing a 6.9% growth on 2021.

The 2021 total number consists of 818,221 adults, 99,871 concessional members and 273,579 juniors.

14 of the 18 AFL clubs broke their all-time records - Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong Cats, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS Giants, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, and Western Bulldogs all setting a new membership benchmark.

The West Coast Eagles exceeded 100,000 members for the third time and topped the AFL membership tally for the third straight year with 102,897 members.

Richmond passed 100,000 for the fifth year running (100,792), after becoming the first sporting club in Australian history to pass 100,000 members in 2018.

Collingwood became the third club in history to surpass 100,000 members while setting their new membership record of 100,384 members.

AFLW membership increased again after its sixth season, with an all-time record 48,712 members signing up. Sydney Swans (4,388) led all clubs despite not having played a game in season six, followed by NAB AFLW Premiers Adelaide Crows (4,219) and St Kilda (4,055), leading the AFLW membership tally.

The official AFL club membership tally was compiled as of 31st August, with Collingwood (+17,857 members), Melbourne (+13,296), Carlton (+7,474) and Sydney Swans (+6,205) achieving the biggest year on year growth.

Commenting on the growth in memberships, which it has achieved 29 times in the past 31 years, McLachlan stated "footy's bounce back in 2022 has revived the heartbeat in cities around the country and that is testament to all supporters and members barracking for their clubs.

"Over 1.19 million members, over 6.1 million fans attending the matches around the country in the home and away season, a remarkable 263,000 fans attended week one of the finals, sell outs for three of the four matches.

"The connection that footy supporters have with their clubs is unmatched in global sport and I am so incredibly proud of all the supporters of our game around the country.”

Big Opportunities for Sponsors
The connection cited by McLachlan is seen as offering sponsors big opportunities for communicating with an engaged audience at individual clubs with the high level of junior members offering brands great opportunities to connect their products or services directly to an engaged younger demographic.

The junior numbers justify the AFL’s announcement yesterday that 10% of gross revenue will be steered towards the grassroots of the sport as a result of the new TV rights deal.  Much of that funding will be focused on junior, high school and female player pathways.

Image: AFL fans at the 2021 Grand Final at Perth's Optus Stadium. Credit: VenuesLive.