The support for elite women’s football has reached new heights, with AFLW club membership numbers almost doubling over the last year to surpass 48,000 for the first time.

A total of 48,712 football fans across the country became a member of their favourite AFLW club this season, breaking the previous record of 25,782 set in the 2021 NAB AFLW Season. The new figure equates to an 89 per cent increase year on year.

Newly licensed AFLW club the Sydney Swans topped the overall membership tally on 4,388 members, followed by the Adelaide Crows (4,219) and St Kilda (4,055).

In addition, 14 AFLW clubs broke their previous club membership records, including the Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong Cats, Fremantle, GWS GIANTS, Gold Coast SUNS, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Richmond, St KildaNorth Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos and the Western Bulldogs.

The 2022 AFLW club membership tally reflects the results of 17 AFLW clubs, with Essendon commencing its inaugural AFLW membership campaign later in the year.