Members kick past a million

THE AFL has hit a major milestone with more than a million club members – or one in 25 Australians – signing up for the 2022 season.

A total of 1,043,604 footy fans have signed up as club members this year to date, surpassing the one-million membership milestone 20 days ahead of the same figure last year.

West Coast and Richmond continue to lead this year’s membership ladder after coming out on top last year, while last season’s grand finalists Melbourne and Western Bulldogs have achieved record-breaking sign-ups in 2022.

The one-million membership figure includes AFLW Club membership, which saw an 89 per cent yearon-year growth to reach 48,712 members for the first-time in the competition’s history.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said the continued support from fans across the country was a sign of footy’s strong return in 2022.

“Australian football is well and truly back across the country,” he said. “On behalf of the AFL, I’d like to thank all 18 clubs for their hard work in engaging with our fans across the country and to every club member whose passion and support makes footy the greatest game in the world.”

Last year’s Covid-ravaged season, which was impacted by border closures, crowd caps and empty stadiums, still saw a record 1,113,441 club memberships.

With 15 rounds left, the league is on track to break last season’s figure, which was topped by West Coast for the second consecutive year with 106,422 members – the second time the club has broken the 100,000 mark.

Geelong was one of 10 of the league’s 18 clubs to break membership records in 2021 – along with the Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Gold Coast Suns, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda and the Eagles.