Which club has the larger fanbase - Essendon or Carlton?

[Shipping Report]

This is the Supercoach club supported rankings from 2023(which is a defacto survey of supporter base).

Around the turn of the century the Bombers were the biggest Victorian club. The herald Sun used to have an annual “supporters survey” back then and we always came out on top. The last 20 years have hurt us and no doubt Collingwood are on top of the mountain again, but we have a far bigger supporter base than the Blues.


Coll 19,921
Ess 19,342

Carl 16,283
Rich 14,223
Haw 12,846
Gee 11,735
St.K 7,670
Kang 7,319
WB 6,645
Melb 6,010

Essendon supporters, and North ones, seem very very online. Melbourne supporters aren’t playing grown up kids fantasy sports games.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

We had some great functions over in Perth pre game with players attending. The Brass Monkey in Northbridge was generally full for Carlton functions. I lived there in the early 90's and they were the biggest supported club outside of WA.

Brass Monkey full of WA Carlton supporters is a frightening proposition

 

[Hawkk]

Essendon supporters, and North ones, seem very very online. Melbourne supporters aren’t playing grown up kids fantasy sports games.

Melbourne are under represented pretty much everywhere. Given they draw decent crowds it’s surprising.

That said, when they won a flag they didn’t get anywhere near the bounce in membership that Collingwood, Richmond or Hawthorn got. The percentage of MCC members are also dropping too (from 22% to 17% in 10 years from 2008 to 2018)

MCC Member Survey - 2008, 2010 & 2015 - Sports Industry AU

Occasionally the Melbourne Cricket Club will survey its members to gauge their support for AFL sides. The last one I can find was in 2010, although there was a summary in 2015 (shown below) November, 2015 Membership Statistics An analysis also shows that while Melbourne is still the most...

www.footyindustry.com

In the next 20 years they could be passed by Essendon and Collingwood. On the balance Essendon is a bigger club than Carlton.

 

[juss]

I would guess Essendon, but purely based on general feel/ observation rather than looking at any data

 

[Mr.X]

They are both Victorian powerhouses with family generation supporters

 

[LeBronco]

Melbourne are under represented pretty much everywhere. Given they draw decent crowds it’s surprising.

That said, when they won a flag they didn’t get anywhere near the bounce in membership that Collingwood, Richmond or Hawthorn got. The percentage of MCC members are also dropping too (from 22% to 17% in 10 years from 2008 to 2018)

MCC Member Survey - 2008, 2010 & 2015 - Sports Industry AU

Occasionally the Melbourne Cricket Club will survey its members to gauge their support for AFL sides. The last one I can find was in 2010, although there was a summary in 2015 (shown below) November, 2015 Membership Statistics An analysis also shows that while Melbourne is still the most...

www.footyindustry.com

View attachment 2480140

In the next 20 years they could be passed by Essendon and Collingwood. On the balance Essendon is a bigger club than Carlton.

St Kilda are further ahead of North Melbourne and Western Bulldogs than I expected I'm also surprised to see Essendon ahead of Collingwood.

 

[What else we can do]

Apart from myself I noticed Carlton supporters don't give a shit about it same goes for Collingwood, but Essendon and Richmond supporters do.

 

[Shane Heard]

I have always felt that Essendon or North is the biggest interstate team in WA.
Probably Essendon piping North.

Yes I concur about Noof fans here.

20 years driving around Perf and I’m continually surprised how many Nth membership stickers are on cars while I’m navigating the god damn circus that is the Kwinana freeway and other SOR streets of Satan.

 

[Shane Heard]

Apart from myself I noticed Carlton supporters don't give a shit about it same goes for Collingwood, but Essendon and Richmond supporters do.

You “Noticed “…well we will just rap this conundrum up with your insightful observation of all football fans who barrack for the fantastic 4.

Good job .

 

[Shane Heard]

So we'll get an accurate gauge of how big Essendon can be in about 2035 when they threaten to win a final again...

You know we’re coming …

 

[What else we can do]

You “Noticed “…well we will just rap this conundrum up with your insightful observation of all football fans who barrack for the fantastic 4.

Good job .

I said apart from me continue on cowboy

 

[Shane Heard]

I said apart from me continue on cowboy

No worries petal.

 

[timokane]

carlton by far used to know a fair few essendon fans back in the 1990s hardly know anyone now whos a bomber but know a hell of alot of blue fans

 

[LeBronco]

carlton by far used to know a fair few essendon fans back in the 1990s hardly know anyone now whos a bomber but know a hell of alot of blue fans

Carlton fans have enjoyed the sugar hit of a preliminary final and a couple of finals wins in recent times so it seems there's more of them around compared to Essendon fans who haven't had anything to enjoy for a long time. People forget how big Essendon are just wait until they win a final or two and make it to a preliminary final it'll dwarf what we saw in 2016 when the Bulldogs won the flag from 7th after starting the finals series at $51 to win the flag.

 

[Worm4]

You know we’re coming …

I return serve with "whatever it takes"

 

[Shane Heard]

I return serve with "whatever it takes"

At least ours denotes some kind of effort to improve.

Yours was a fantasy statement made up by your delusional leader who always likes to dribble moronic word drool…Kernahan.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

This is the Supercoach club supported rankings from 2023(which is a defacto survey of supporter base).

Around the turn of the century the Bombers were the biggest Victorian club. The herald Sun used to have an annual “supporters survey” back then and we always came out on top. The last 20 years have hurt us and no doubt Collingwood are on top of the mountain again, but we have a far bigger supporter base than the Blues.


Coll 19,921
Ess 19,342

Carl 16,283
Rich 14,223
Haw 12,846
Gee 11,735
St.K 7,670
Kang 7,319
WB 6,645
Melb 6,010

Eh, not sure about this. Supercoach is basically only played in Victoria. Should compare numbers with AFL Fantasy also and see what comes up. May be some change in numbers, for example Carlton's presence in WA is very large (larger than Essendons) due to years of connection with Claremont pre-AFL and for a variety of other reasons.

 

[Worm4]

At least ours denotes some kind of effort to improve.

Yours was a fantasy statement made up by your delusional leader who always likes to dribble moronic word drool…Kernahan.

Hasnt ended well for either side . We've been overcooked for 2 decades, bombers have been next level below over the same period.

 

[Shane Heard]

Hasnt ended well for either side . We've been overcooked for 2 decades, bombers have been next level below over the same period.

I concur.

 

[LeBronco]

Eh, not sure about this. Supercoach is basically only played in Victoria. Should compare numbers with AFL Fantasy also and see what comes up. May be some change in numbers, for example Carlton's presence in WA is very large (larger than Essendons) due to years of connection with Claremont pre-AFL and for a variety of other reasons.

I'm pretty sure Carlton have travelled to WA the most out of all clubs since Fremantle and West Coast have been in the competition it seems the AFL like to keep the WA contingent of Carlton fans happy.

 

[joe444]

Both are declining
Carlton way fatter

 

[LeBronco]

Both are declining
Carlton way fatter

Carlton enjoyed the sugar hit of a preliminary final recently it would explain them being fatter than Essendon.

 

[joe444]

Carlton enjoyed the sugar hit of a preliminary final recently it would explain them being fatter than Essendon.

Plus Essendon began to rapidly gain then lose bulk around 2012/13

 

[windyhill]

Plus Essendon began to rapidly gain then lose bulk around 2012/13
View attachment 2488406

We cottoned on fast.

 

[WilloTree]

Not being a smart-arse, but you can literally google the answer.