It would be interesting to compare total money earned from all types of memberships for each club. That would give a true reflection of member support.
Not something clubs would readily reveal, but agree a much better guide.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
It would be interesting to compare total money earned from all types of memberships for each club. That would give a true reflection of member support.
Membership isn't a count of passionate supporters. Otherwise we'd just count anyone that buys a ticket. Why does a 3 game ticket holder count, but not a person that buys single tickets to 3 games?
Attendance is probably a better indication of club support than membership. But I think you'd find the two are fairly closely aligned, with some exceptions. Same for membership numbers and revenue - there would be a few differences but otherwise largely the same result.
Club Members
Collingwood 49,334
West Coast 41,691
Hawthorn 40,800
Essendon 30,000
Richmond 26,039
Geelong 23,800
Carlton 23,187
Melbourne 20,623
Western Bulldogs 18,229
North Melbourne 17,035
Port Adelaide 15,217
St Kilda 14,390
Sydney 12,200
Brisbane 11,202
Gold Coast 8,138
GWS 3,749
Adelaide 1,250*
Fremantle N/A
As of 8/1
*New MembersCode:Club Members Collingwood 49,334 West Coast 41,691 Hawthorn 40,800 Essendon 30,000 Richmond 26,039 Geelong 23,800 Carlton 23,187 Melbourne 20,623 Western Bulldogs 18,229 North Melbourne 17,035 Port Adelaide 15,217 St Kilda 14,390 Sydney 12,200 Brisbane 11,202 Gold Coast 8,138 GWS 3,749 Adelaide 1,250* Fremantle N/A
Tallies on Club Websites and media reports.Hey Hornberger, what's your source for these? And are Adelaide and Freo less transparent about their numbers?
It has seemed to drag into the first month of Footy too. If I recall correctly, Carlton was well behind Richmond until round 3-4 last year
Good point...Membership isn't a count of passionate supporters. Otherwise we'd just count anyone that buys a ticket. Why does a 3 game ticket holder count, but not a person that buys single tickets to 3 games?
Good point...
I have a non-member mate that comes along to half a dozen games per season due to work commitments. He came along to Adelaide for the Port game last year and we used to be social club members back in the Princes Park days.
...but according to membership figures he's not as passionate as some from other clubs that count cats and dogs?
As of 8/1
*New MembersCode:Club Members Western Bulldogs 18,229 North Melbourne 17,035 Port Adelaide 15,217 St Kilda 14,390 Sydney 12,200 Brisbane 11,202 Gold Coast 8,138 GWS 3,749
The reality is they remained several thousand behind Richmond all season but Richmond had over 7,000 uncounted memberships.....as did Essendon I believe though I stand to be corrected. A system counting all membership sales will expose this reality.
There IS a problem with Carlton and memberships. Collingwood have been at maximal strength the past 2 years so can be expected to be huge but if all memberships are counted Carlton are significantly behind essendona and Richmond and shouldn't be given ladder position and expectation.
That a considerable part of the ESS/RICH membership revenue has not been counted by the AFL does not man it disappears. Carlton have to do something about this. The support is there but is not being fully tapped for membership dollars. I think that Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond were the three most successful last season in terms of raising membership dollars and there is no doubt carlton, given expectation and ladder performance should be in that group.
The AFL have made a clear distinction between access and non access memberships in the past. Evidently some clubs count anyone they give a friggin hat to as a member. Carltons reported figure on its site matched exactly with the AFL audited figure so I assume that Carlton dont count non access members either.
Finally, the revenue still counts, just the overly inflated numbers dont. From the financial reporting thread:
Membership Revenue
Collingwood - $16,419,687 (does NOT include gate reciepts)
Geelong - $12,121,444 (inc. gate receipts)
Richmond - $11,992,714 (inc. gate reciepts)
Hawthorn - $11,705,117 (inc. gate reciepts)
Carlton - $11,617,793 (inc. gate reciepts)
Essendon - $10,363,690 (inc. gate reciepts)
Melbourne - $9,727,844 (inc. gate reciepts)
Brisbane - $6,918,708 (inc. gate reciepts)
Western Bulldogs - $6,712,710 (inc. gate reciepts)
North Melbourne - $5,745,872 (inc. gate reciepts)
Port Adelaide - Not Specified
The AFL have made a clear distinction between access and non access memberships in the past. Evidently some clubs count anyone they give a friggin hat to as a member. Carltons reported figure on its site matched exactly with the AFL audited figure so I assume that Carlton dont count non access members either.
Finally, the revenue still counts, just the overly inflated numbers dont. From the financial reporting thread:
Membership Revenue
Collingwood - $16,419,687 (does NOT include gate reciepts)
Geelong - $12,121,444 (inc. gate receipts)
Richmond - $11,992,714 (inc. gate reciepts)
Hawthorn - $11,705,117 (inc. gate reciepts)
Carlton - $11,617,793 (inc. gate reciepts)
Essendon - $10,363,690 (inc. gate reciepts)
Melbourne - $9,727,844 (inc. gate reciepts)
Brisbane - $6,918,708 (inc. gate reciepts)
Western Bulldogs - $6,712,710 (inc. gate reciepts)
North Melbourne - $5,745,872 (inc. gate reciepts)
Port Adelaide - Not Specified
For North, this is a very good result so far.
In front of 4 established clubs, 2 others, and not an extreme amount behind the Doggies.
If the tallies end up similar to these we'll have progressed from absolute bottom of the pack to bottom end of the pack. Which is good.
I realise they have been on top for a while now, but you have to admire the fact a regional club in Geelong, can bring in the second highest revenue amount, behind only Collingwood. Says a lot for their administration and marketing. Brisbane struggle with or without success. Also have to admire the fact that, despite being poor on field for the last few years, Richmond have such high revenue figures. Definitely a loyal supporter base at Tigerland. Carlton surprises me though, especially for a big 4 club. Just goes to show Victorians really do embrace Australian Rules.
The AFL have made a clear distinction between access and non access memberships in the past. Evidently some clubs count anyone they give a friggin hat to as a member. Carltons reported figure on its site matched exactly with the AFL audited figure so I assume that Carlton dont count non access members either.
Finally, the revenue still counts, just the overly inflated numbers dont. From the financial reporting thread:
Membership Revenue
Collingwood - $16,419,687 (does NOT include gate reciepts)
Geelong - $12,121,444 (inc. gate receipts)
Richmond - $11,992,714 (inc. gate reciepts)
Hawthorn - $11,705,117 (inc. gate reciepts)
Carlton - $11,617,793 (inc. gate reciepts)
Essendon - $10,363,690 (inc. gate reciepts)
Melbourne - $9,727,844 (inc. gate reciepts)
Brisbane - $6,918,708 (inc. gate reciepts)
Western Bulldogs - $6,712,710 (inc. gate reciepts)
North Melbourne - $5,745,872 (inc. gate reciepts)
Port Adelaide - Not Specified
Taking into account expectation of success and ladder position over the past couple of years Carlton should not be 5th in membership revenue. A well functioning Carlton marketing machine in the circumstances should be 2nd to Collingwood. That is my point. In the circumstances Carlton are in I would expect both Richmond and Essendon to do likewise. Carlton shoud have had more membership income than Richmond ( basementing year on year ) and Hawthorn ( cheapest average memberships ) last year.
Not bagging in all honesty. I'm actually surprised we had higher income than you last year given onfield realities.
The new big 4 ^^
Collingwood
Geelong
Richmond
Hawthorn
Maybe youre right, then again perhaps you should measure that by actual attendance at games, until Cats and Dogs are allowed to attend matches, your attendance numbers will always be below ours!
Go Blues
We don't even have pet memberships. Try again.
Fair enuff, well obviously your members dont vote with their feet then...surely with 50000 members your club (given the BIG 4 status, whatever that means), your attendance figures are bigger than Carltons??