AusLeisure

The AFL has announced that club membership has exceeded one million for the first time, with 13 teams breaking their all-time records this season. 

The final tally for 2018 stood at 1,008,494 members by the 31st July deadline, an 11% increase on last season and the 18th consecutive year of growth.

Reigning premier Richmond led the way after becoming the first club to sign up 100,000 members – an increase of nearly 39% following last year's drought-breaking flag.

Hawthorn and high-flying West Coast rounded out the top three, with both clubs exceeding 80,000 members for the first time.

Only Collingwood (-372) and the Western Bulldogs (-4407) failed to grow their membership bases.   

Welcoming the numbers, AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan stated "one in every 24 Australians is now a member of an AFL club, a sign that the national reach of Australian football has never been greater.

"Whether you have been a member for decades or just signed up this year, on behalf of the AFL I want to thank every single one of you.

"The commitment members make to their clubs is the key reason why our game continues to prosper.

"Our clubs give us a connection. Our games fill us with hope, despair and joy, and today it makes us proud."

AFLW memberships also climbed in the competition's second season, up more than 30% to 9,406.

Images: Richmond became the firts AFL club to sign up 100,000 members (top) and the AFL's club membership figures to 31st July 2018 (below).

Related Articles

13th April 2018 - AFL breaks Western Australian attendance record at new Optus Stadium

23rd March 2018 - IBISWorld study confirms West Coast Eagles as AFL’s most profitable club

7th November 2017 - AFL aims for new Perth Stadium to drive 2018 attendance record

7th September 2017 - AFL breaks home-and-away season attendance record

30th August 2017 - Richmond attracts AFL’s biggest crowd numbers through 2017 season

10th August 2017 - AFL on target to break 6.5 million attendance record

5th May 2017 - AFL looks to eSports to engage with new audiences

25th October 2016 - Aligned Leisure and Richmond FC offer PHD Scholarship into improving health outcomes

4th January 2016 - AFL claims massive growth in participation in 2015

27th August 2015 - AFL announces record club membership figures

3rd March 2015 - Research reveals the social value of a football club

6th December 2013 - AFL teams move ahead as the most valuable brands in Australian sport

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.