Really enjoy talking about the social history of football
Here goes
ADELAIDE
In South Australia, you are either a Port Adelaide supporter or you are not a Port Adelaide supporter. Port supporters are working class and vote for the ALP. Non supporters are usually Middle Class. Thats why the Crows are percieved (with some justification I think) as a middle class club.
BRISBANE
A hybrid with no particularly strong social roots. In the old days Fitzroy was a solidly working class / Catholic club who were VERY bitter rivals of Collingwood. The old Brisbane Bears supporter base was mostly middle class.
CARLTON
Used to be a staunchly working class club. Massive changes to the demographics of inner Melbourne after the Second World War meant that Carlton, in the 1960's, had to re-invent themselves and appeal to a new kinda supporter. Enter George Harris and the complete transformation of Carlton into a club run by elitists for a cosmopolitan supporter base.
COLLINGWOOD
An icon of working class Australia, always was, always will be. Used to be a time when there was a holy trinity of working class culture in Australia : The Catholic Church, The Australian Labour Party, and the Collingwood Football club. Thankfully this is not so strong nowadays but the old sectarian rivalries and tribalism still burn brightly at Victoria Park.
ESSENDON
Traditionally a Protestant middle class club. Gained a reputation for recruiting players from Meolbourne's elite schools and an association with Freemasonry was always a part of its earlier history. The coming of Kevin Sheedy has done much to remove some of this nonsense surrounding the club, but geez you have to wonder about people like McMahon sometimes ...
FREMANTLE
See comments relating to Collingwood, but from a Western Australian perspective. Same for Port Adelaide in a South Australian context.
GEELONG
A Country club which draws its support from a wide variety of sources, from the rich graziers of the Western District to the workers at the Ford factory - Geelong can be all things to all people, maybe thats why they appear to be a bit schzophrenic on the paddock !
HAWTHORN
Solid Middle class respectability from deep in the Melbourne suburban heartland. They call themselves the 'family club' - its not an exagerration.
KANGAROOS
Demographics and football history have combined to ensure this no-frills working class club from a less than salubrious area of Melbourne stays a small club with a small supporter base. Like the factories and railway yards of North Melbourne itself, ripe for urban renewal.
MELBOURNE
A winter plaything for those bastions of the Melbourne conservative establishment - the MCC. In typically elitist fashion these people consider the boradroom is the real arena and not the football field.
PORT ADELAIDE
See comments above re : Collingwood but in a South Australian context.
RICHMOND
Often referred to as "Collingwood with a yellow streak" their origins are similar and they used to draw their support from similar communities. Club of choice for Melbournes restless and violent 'sharpies' during the 60's and 70's.
St KILDA
Easily the most diverse and colourful supporter group in the whole comp. Traditionally the club of choice for Melbourne's sizable artistic and bohemian community, they also have a huge follwing among Jews and also the easy going middle classes that perferred living down Bayside rather than the leafy boulevards of Toorak. You really have to a bit of nutter yourself if you want to be a real Saints fan.
SYDNEY
The old South Melbourne was un-ashamedly a middle calss and elitist club. Used to be what Carlton are today. Move to Sydney seems to have enhanced this reputation rather than changed it. Club is working hard to broaden its appeal outside the affluent Eastern Suburbs and North Shore of Sydney, but don't hold your breath on this one.
WEST COAST EAGLES
I honestly don't know what kind of people support the WCE, but I'm guessing the situation is similar to Adelaide, Middle class types support the Eagles/Crows whilst working class people prefer Fremantle / Port.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Strugglers, battlers, scraggers, call 'em what you will but this club seems to reflect the western suburbs of Melbourne perfectly. The area's demographics are changing rapidly and the club seems determined to move along with the times as well.
cheers