Pies top the ladder for membership

COLLINGWOOD has roared back to No.1 on the AFL’s membership ladder in a ringing endorsement of the club’s direction from its fans.

Collingwood has leapfrogged Hawthorn to record 75,879 paid-up members while total AFL memberships rose 3.7 per cent.

The AFL has exceeded 900,000 members for the first time, with 12 of the 18 clubs making membership gains and 10 reaching record memberships.

The Pies recorded a 1.6 per cent jump in membership, ahead of Hawthorn (75,663), Richmond (72,669) and Essendon (67,768). But while expansion club GWS has recorded a sensational 37 per cent growth to rise to 20,944 members, Gold Coast’s figures are more cause for concern.

The Suns’ membership slumped 9.25 per cent to fall to 11,665 paid-up members this year, 9000 fewer than 17th-placed GWS.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said the Collingwood membership who had stayed strong would be rewarded next year.

“It’s been a disappointing year for us, but the thing that keeps us going is membership. It’s fantastic that big Victorian clubs like Essendon, Richmond, Hawthorn and Geelong continue to grow,’’ he said.

“In a period where it’s been tough for Pies fans they have voted with their membership dollars. We want to make sure they get rewarded next year.”

The figures are based on numbers after the July 31 deadline and only include games-based memberships, not social memberships.

In all one in 27 people in Australia is an AFL club member.

The GWS figure of 20,944 would put it third among Sydney-based NRL clubs, which thrilled CEO David Matthews. “A 37 per cent increase is a significant achievement,” he said.