Which club has the larger fanbase - Essendon or Carlton?

[RonnieRaven]

There’s heaps of closet bombers supporters
They start winning finals they will be massive again

 

[branedotorg]

I think you'll find that nobody outside of Essendon or Carlton supporters actually gives the smallest shit.

as a carlton fan i don't give a shit

 

[LeBronco]

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

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According to Roy Morgan surveys the Melbourne Storm have over 1 million fans but there is no way they have more fans than Collingwood.

 

[Paracleet]

It’s a tricky one.

Carlton have more members, have had a higher average attendance every year since 2022 and have more insta followers (312k v 278k). On the other hand Essendon had the higher average attendance from 2011-2019 and has more Facebook followers (362k v 326k).

Essendon also rank as the second most supported Vic club in the latest Roy Morgan poll (Carl 3rd), rank second in MCC club support (after Melb) and rank second in total SuperCoach entrants by club supported (Coll first). Now these may all seem like silly measurements but they give a good indication of casual, latent support.

Carlton have had their share of struggles this century and their membership and attendances didn’t really explode until the ‘23 prelim and may have somewhat tempered with recent form. Essendon as we all know have gone decades without a finals win and have struggled to really shake the drug saga.

I’d argue that Carlton are currently bigger but Essendon has greater room for growth, particularly if they can get their act together on field. It’s worth noting Essendon consistently ranked first for members and attendances in the 1998-2004 era - could they reclaim this mantle or has Collingwood simply moved too far ahead?

Dunno why anyone would take the Roy Morgan poll seriously. It has the Adelaide clubs as having the same level of collective support as the WA clubs despite WA being not far off twice as big.

Their methodology is clearly flawed.

 

[LeBronco]

Dunno why anyone would take the Roy Morgan poll seriously. It has the Adelaide clubs as having the same level of collective support as the WA clubs despite WA being not far off twice as big.

Their methodology is clearly flawed.

Also there's no way that Sydney and Brisbane are bigger clubs than Collingwood if we're being realistic then Sydney and Brisbane are on a similar level to Geelong in terms of support.

 

[Paracleet]

Also there's no way that Sydney and Brisbane are bigger clubs than Collingwood if we're being realistic then Sydney and Brisbane are on a similar level to Geelong in terms of support.

Oh I could believe those numbers for casual support. If you asked me who I support in Super Rugby and the only choices were the clubs or never heard of it I'd pick the Western Force even though I've never been in the 20 years they've existed.

 

[LeBronco]

Oh I could believe those numbers for casual support. If you asked me who I support in Super Rugby and the only choices were the clubs or never heard of it I'd pick the Western Force even though I've never been in the 20 years they've existed.

How many of them could name a Swans or Lions player? I'm sure there are plenty who would struggle to name their club captain let alone attend games or buy memberships.

 

[Paracleet]

How many of them could name a Swans or Lions player? I'm sure there are plenty who would struggle to name their club captain let alone attend games or buy memberships.

Hense the word 'casual'.

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

Apparently Essendon have more members, but bluebottles are naturally attracted to excretement. That doesn't mean that i want to be a bluebottle however.

 

[BillytheLid]

There’s support and then there’s support. I don’t live anywhere near the respective northern suburb heartlands of these clubs but to an outsider (from the SE suburbs) it would appear that Essendon have more casual supporters and perhaps a broader geographic spread but Carlton have more rusted on, loyal (nuffy) supporters who will stick with them through thick and thin. Mind you they are not shy about loudly expressing their opinions to the players during the ’thin’ periods. To be fair either are the supporters of my mob who have blown up more than their fair share of microwaves in disgust.