Thursday July 12, 06:44 PM Record year for AFL memberships
The on-field success of Geelong and the Kangaroos in 2007 has not translated into membership sales in what was a record year for the
Both clubs recorded sizeable drops in members, according to figures released by the AFL.
Despite sitting two games clear on top of the ladder after round 14, Geelong's membership fell by more than six per cent to 30,169.
The Kangaroos, winners in nine of their past 11 games, perhaps paid the price for losing their first three matches as their numbers tumbled by almost 10 per cent, dropping to 22,366.
But there were bright spots, with Fremantle's preliminary final berth in 2006 prompting a remarkable surge in their membership numbers.
For years the Dockers have lagged behind their cross-town rivals West Coast, but the Dockers crashed through the 40,000 barrier for the first time in their 13-year history, signing 43,343 members in 2007 - 21.5 per cent more than last year.
Overall, more than half a million people joined 2007, with memberships up 2.6 per cent to 532,412.
Ten clubs posted increases, including Adelaide, which is again the league's most supported club.
The Crows increased their membership 1.7 per cent to a touch under 51,000, while West Coast (up 4.1 per cent to 45,949) was second and the Dockers third.
In a further indication on-field performance can have little bearing on membership, bottom-of-the-ladder Richmond managed a 2.2 per cent increase to finish above the 30,000 mark for the first time and Carlton posted an impressive 23.2 per cent jump - the biggest in the league - to move above 35,000.
The Western Bulldogs (28,725) also recorded a healthy 10.3 per cent increase.
The Brisbane Lions recorded the biggest drop, their membership plunging 16.9 per cent to below 22,000.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said in a statement that the figures were "a tribute to the work of all clubs and the passion of supporters for the game in every part of Australia".
"We and our clubs are in the privileged position where more than half a million people across the country are paid-up and proud members of an AFL club," Demetriou said.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070712/2/13ycu.html
The on-field success of Geelong and the Kangaroos in 2007 has not translated into membership sales in what was a record year for the
Both clubs recorded sizeable drops in members, according to figures released by the AFL.
Despite sitting two games clear on top of the ladder after round 14, Geelong's membership fell by more than six per cent to 30,169.
The Kangaroos, winners in nine of their past 11 games, perhaps paid the price for losing their first three matches as their numbers tumbled by almost 10 per cent, dropping to 22,366.
But there were bright spots, with Fremantle's preliminary final berth in 2006 prompting a remarkable surge in their membership numbers.
For years the Dockers have lagged behind their cross-town rivals West Coast, but the Dockers crashed through the 40,000 barrier for the first time in their 13-year history, signing 43,343 members in 2007 - 21.5 per cent more than last year.
Overall, more than half a million people joined 2007, with memberships up 2.6 per cent to 532,412.
Ten clubs posted increases, including Adelaide, which is again the league's most supported club.
The Crows increased their membership 1.7 per cent to a touch under 51,000, while West Coast (up 4.1 per cent to 45,949) was second and the Dockers third.
In a further indication on-field performance can have little bearing on membership, bottom-of-the-ladder Richmond managed a 2.2 per cent increase to finish above the 30,000 mark for the first time and Carlton posted an impressive 23.2 per cent jump - the biggest in the league - to move above 35,000.
The Western Bulldogs (28,725) also recorded a healthy 10.3 per cent increase.
The Brisbane Lions recorded the biggest drop, their membership plunging 16.9 per cent to below 22,000.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said in a statement that the figures were "a tribute to the work of all clubs and the passion of supporters for the game in every part of Australia".
"We and our clubs are in the privileged position where more than half a million people across the country are paid-up and proud members of an AFL club," Demetriou said.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070712/2/13ycu.html
