2017 Supporter to member numbers

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Apr 24, 2013
81,024
153,170
Arden Street Hill
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Essendon Lawn Bowls Club
2017 supporter to membership data

CLUB|SUPPORTERS*|MEMBERS#|SUPPORTERS TO MEMBERS %
\Western Bulldogs|247,000|47,653|19.29%
\Melbourne|229,000|42,233|18.44%
\Port Adelaide|298,000|52,129|17.49%
\Richmond|442,000|72,669|16.44% \North Melbourne|263,000|40,343|15.34%
\Hawthorn|528,000|75,663|14.33%
\St Kilda|294,000|42,052|14.30%
\GWS|175,000|20,944|12.00%
\Collingwood|663,000|75,879|11.44%
\Fremantle|459,000|51,254|11.17%
\Gold Coast|106,000|11,665|11.00%
\Carlton|464,000|50,326|10.85%
\Geelong|515,000|54,854|10.65
\Adelaide|541,000|56,865|10.51%
\Essendon|671,000|67,768|10.01%
\West Coast|669,000|65,064|9.73%
\Sydney Swans|1,204,000|58,838|4.89%
\Brisbane Lions|489,000|21,362|4.37%

*Numbers are generated from the Roy Morgan Single Source Australia poll.
# Official AFL figures
 
Last edited:
[table ]


CLUB

SUPPORTERS *

MEMBERS #

SUPPORTERS TO MEMBERS %

Western Bulldogs

247,000

47,653

19.29%

Melbourne

229,000

42,233

18.44%

Port Adelaide

298,000

52,129

17.49%

Richmond

442,000

72,669

16.44%

North Melbourne

263,000

40,343

15.34%

Hawthorn

528,000

75,663

14.33%

St Kilda

294,000

42,052

14.30%

GWS

175,000

20,944

12.00%

Collingwood

663,000

75,879

11.44%

Fremantle

459,000

51,254

11.17%

Gold Coast

106,000

11,665

11.00%

Carlton

464,000

50,326

10.85%

Geelong

515,000

54,854

10.65%

Adelaide

541,000

56,865

10.51%

Essendon

671,000

67,768

10.01%

West Coast

669,000

65,064

9.73%

Sydney Swans

1,204,000

58,838

4.89%

Brisbane Lions

489,000

21,362

4.37%

[/table]
Great OP :thumbsu:
 

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Mar 25, 2010
2,559
2,455
AFL Club
Geelong
2017 supporter to membership data

CLUB|SUPPORTERS*|MEMBERS#|SUPPORTERS TO MEMBERS %
\Western Bulldogs|247,000|47,653|19.29%
\Melbourne|229,000|42,233|18.44%
\Port Adelaide|298,000|52,129|17.49%
\Richmond|442,000|72,669|16.44% \North Melbourne|263,000|40,343|15.34%
\Hawthorn|528,000|75,663|14.33%
\St Kilda|294,000|42,052|14.30%
\GWS|175,000|20,944|12.00%
\Collingwood|663,000|75,879|11.44%
\Fremantle|459,000|51,254|11.17%
\Gold Coast|106,000|11,665|11.00%
\Carlton|464,000|50,326|10.85%
\Geelong|515,000|54,854|10.65
\Adelaide|541,000|56,865|10.51%
\Essendon|671,000|67,768|10.01%
\West Coast|669,000|65,064|9.73%
\Sydney Swans|1,204,000|58,838|4.89%
\Brisbane Lions|489,000|21,362|4.37%

*Numbers are generated from the Roy Morgan Single Source Australia poll.
# Official AFL figures

Geelong membership numbers are affected by the fact that it plays a lot of its home (about 7 or 8 a year) games in a boutique stadium that is not easily accessible to roughly 40% to 50% of its supporters who live in Melbourne (eastern suburbs in particular) and other parts of Victoria.

Home games ( 3 or 4 a year) that are played in Melbourne don't provide value for money hence why it's not surprising Geelong membership numbers remain stagnant because it's only really attractive to those that actually live in Geelong or in Melbourne's western suburbs.
 
Apr 24, 2013
81,024
153,170
Arden Street Hill
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Essendon Lawn Bowls Club
Geelong membership numbers are affected by the fact that it plays a lot of its home games in a boutique stadium that is not easily accessible for roughly 40% to 50% of its supporters who live in Melbourne (eastern suburbs in particular) and other parts of Victoria.

I think the bigger impacts would be stadium size in Geelong and economic pressures in the Geelong area.
 
Mar 25, 2010
2,559
2,455
AFL Club
Geelong
I think the bigger impacts would be stadium size in Geelong and economic pressures in the Geelong area.
Geelong members who live in Greater Geelong regularly make it to games I'd imagine but being a regional club it does make it more difficult to sign up fans (a significant portion of Cat supporters hail from outside Geelong) who live in Melbourne who have to spend a considerable amount of time traveling to Geelong to watch their home games.
 

Lsta062

Brownlow Medallist
Jul 15, 2014
21,431
41,125
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
Chelsea, LA Lakers, Western United
2017 supporter to membership data

CLUB|SUPPORTERS*|MEMBERS#|SUPPORTERS TO MEMBERS %
\Western Bulldogs|247,000|47,653|19.29%
\Melbourne|229,000|42,233|18.44%
\Port Adelaide|298,000|52,129|17.49%
\Richmond|442,000|72,669|16.44% \North Melbourne|263,000|40,343|15.34%
\Hawthorn|528,000|75,663|14.33%
\St Kilda|294,000|42,052|14.30%
\GWS|175,000|20,944|12.00%
\Collingwood|663,000|75,879|11.44%
\Fremantle|459,000|51,254|11.17%
\Gold Coast|106,000|11,665|11.00%
\Carlton|464,000|50,326|10.85%
\Geelong|515,000|54,854|10.65
\Adelaide|541,000|56,865|10.51%
\Essendon|671,000|67,768|10.01%
\West Coast|669,000|65,064|9.73%
\Sydney Swans|1,204,000|58,838|4.89%
\Brisbane Lions|489,000|21,362|4.37%

*Numbers are generated from the Roy Morgan Single Source Australia poll.
# Official AFL figures
This doesn't take into account restrictions on membership sales teams like West Coast or Adelaide have. They wouldn't sell memberships greatly exceeding the size of the ground they play in, so it isn't surprising to see that the MCG teams are higher on the "loyalty" charts than the bigger interstate sides.
 
Apr 24, 2013
81,024
153,170
Arden Street Hill
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Essendon Lawn Bowls Club
Yep, that would impact.

What I can take from these numbers:

- The Port, North and StKilda numbers are encouraging.
- I suspect Melbourne figures may be impacted by M.C.C. memberships, but still, they're good all things considered.
- The Bulldogs figures clearly reflects a premiership afterglow. Again, good all things considered.
- Richmond will most likely head the percentages in 2018.
 
Mar 18, 2013
14,501
30,845
Melbourne
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
University
Sydney having 1.2 million supporters is very questionable. They might have 1.2 million who know the name of Buddy Franklin, but a great portion of those are nothing more than casual followers. I've been to the SCG, some days it's a social gathering rather than a football game.
 
Apr 24, 2013
81,024
153,170
Arden Street Hill
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Essendon Lawn Bowls Club
Sydney having 1.2 million supporters is very questionable. They might have 1.2 million who know the name of Buddy Franklin, but a great portion of those are nothing more than casual followers. I've been to the SCG, some days it's a social gathering rather than a football game.

I don't think it really is that questionable in a city of 5.6 million people.

RMP: Hello, do you favor/support any AFL side?
Sydney person: I suppose I would favor/support the Swans
RMP: *ticks Sydney Swans box*

It doesn't necessarily mean they would ever be likely to become a member.
 

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Rusty Brookes

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 9, 2001
6,699
8,674
Preston
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
Hawthorn, Manningham Cobras
The Roy Morgan Survey's definition of a supporter is someone who ticks a box on a form. Doesn't take into account whether the respondent can name a player, has actually ever attended a game, knows the rules, etc
 

chickentendies

Cancelled
BeanCoiNFT Investor
Mar 26, 2017
1,930
7,366
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
The Roy Morgan Survey's definition of a supporter is someone who ticks a box on a form. Doesn't take into account whether the respondent can name a player, has actually ever attended a game, knows the rules, etc

Part of the challenge of a membership team is converting that casual box ticking member into an attending supporter. Its not easy, but its possible and as much as the more committed (ie: BigFooty poster) members hate it, its often the 'gameday experience' that does it.

As stated, some clubs max out 11 Game Memberships and consequently will always have low ratios like WCE and Crows. Still, very interesting table to read!
 
Aug 4, 2003
22,968
23,406
WA
AFL Club
West Coast
I don't think it really is that questionable in a city of 5.6 million people.

RMP: Hello, do you favor/support any AFL side?
Sydney person: I suppose I would favor/support the Swans
RMP: *ticks Sydney Swans box*

It doesn't necessarily mean they would ever be likely to become a member.

Sydney folk don’t really sport.

More likely they said ‘Roosters’ and the surveyor just picked the closest matching animal.
 

FlyHigh18

Arden St Parking Inspector
May 8, 2017
2,536
6,679
AFL Club
North Melbourne
The 'supporters' column shows the potential highs which memberships numbers can reach. Obviously not all supporters can become members due to a number of reasons such as; seating capacity, high prices, distance, etc. Therefore it is up the club to come up with different and more suitable membership options in order to tap into this market.

Alternatively, maybe high membership numbers isn't the best model anymore. Having a large supporter base to boost online audience (thus broadcast cash) is also very lucrative. I think we're gradually seeing a drift in this direction.
 
Apr 24, 2013
81,024
153,170
Arden Street Hill
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Essendon Lawn Bowls Club
The numbers shouldn't be taken literally.

They can, however, be utilised for generalised trends.

e.g. You certainly coudn't come to the conclusion that Port supporters don't follow their club strongly when other factors are taken in to account.
 

MaddAdam

Cancelled
10k Posts Bay 13: Vintage Bay Podcaster North Melbourne - North 2012 Player Sponsor North Melbourne - North 2011 Player Sponsor North Melbourne - North 2010 Player Sponsor North Melbourne - North 2009 Player Sponsor
Jun 8, 2011
25,408
32,891
In the not so distant future
AFL Club
North Melbourne
North have more than 263,000 supporters. Everyone who goes to a game (financially) supports North at the end of the day.

I put 20c in your Save Our Skins rattling tins back in the day.

Your premiership wouldn't have been possible without me.
 

Jedi Tiger

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Sep 18, 2015
324
1,271
AFL Club
Richmond
Are Richmond supporters prepared to admit they aren't the biggest club in the land?
Not even on page 2 and you want to turn it into this. Maybe tiger fans haven’t made this off-season unbearable for the rest - everyone else’s untameable obsession for all things Richmond has.
 

Rusty Brookes

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 9, 2001
6,699
8,674
Preston
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
Hawthorn, Manningham Cobras
Part of the challenge of a membership team is converting that casual box ticking member into an attending supporter. Its not easy, but its possible and as much as the more committed (ie: BigFooty poster) members hate it, its often the 'gameday experience' that does it.

As stated, some clubs max out 11 Game Memberships and consequently will always have low ratios like WCE and Crows. Still, very interesting table to read!

It's a long way from ticking a box to actually turning up to a game.

For example, if I was asked which NRL side I follow I'd say Parramatta Eels. I can't name a player, have been to one game while on a business trip in Sydney for something to do (I enjoyed it BTW) and am unlikely to go again. The chances of me becoming a member are pretty much nil. Yet with Roy Morgan, I could count as a Parramatta supporter.

Sorry but we're in an alternate universe if Richmond has less supporters than Brisbane.
 
Apr 24, 2013
81,024
153,170
Arden Street Hill
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Essendon Lawn Bowls Club
I spoke to a north member once and didnt take the piss out of him,

Smart move.

You would be setting yourself up for a huge fall considering the last 40 odd years of results between our clubs.
 

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