HAWTHORN is closing on Collingwood as the country’s most popular AFL club.

And Richmond, hot on the back of last year’s late-season revival, is not far behind.

The Magpies still head the AFL’s membership ladder with 64,507, slightly down on the same time last year.

But the Hawks are on their tails with 61,490, 5500 more than at the same time in 2014.

And Richmond has 5183 more signed-up fans than this time last year with 58,260 members on its books.

The Tigers’ mob includes 18-day-old Alice Butler, who was signed when she was just four days old to follow in the footsteps of her dad, Joe, 31.

But Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert is confident his club can land more than 85,500 members before season’s end.

“Collingwood members have always shared a deep emotional connection to the club and today this connection lives on,” Pert said.

St Kilda is also punching above its weight, signing up 3803 more members than last year, putting the club on track to eclipse its target of 35,000.

Carlton and Essendon* have seen their numbers take a hit after the Blues disappointing 2014 and the Bombers off-field woes.

But it is Port Adelaide that leads the pre-season charge for members, with the club just 1400 short of its 2014 tally more than a month before the 2015 season has started.

Power has attracted 13,000 more members than it had 12 months ago for a total of 54,342. It is one of 14 sides to be ahead of this time last year.
Marketing manager Matthew Richardson said his club owed its membership boom to its “fantastic style of footy” and its Adelaide Oval home.

Port has sold out its reserve seats at Adelaide Oval, and Adelaide expects to do the same.

Adelaide has enjoyed a successful off-season, attracting about 8000 more members than a year ago.

More than 680,800 AFL fans have signed up, up from 642,000 this time last year.

Carlton has work to do, as it is about 4000 members short of this time last year with almost 34,000.

But it is Port Adelaide that leads the pre-season charge for members, with the club just 1400 short of its 2014 tally more than a month before the 2015 season has started.

Power has attracted 13,000 more members than it had 12 months ago for a total of 54,342. It is one of 14 sides to be ahead of this time last year.
Marketing manager Matthew Richardson said his club owed its membership boom to its “fantastic style of footy” and its Adelaide Oval home.

Port has sold out its reserve seats at Adelaide Oval, and Adelaide expects to do the same.

I'm not a member these days for the following reasons in order of importance

1 the board is [REDACTED]. Pratts and Mathiesons. Need to go. Otherwise bold decisions won't be made and the club will be stuck in the 70, 80 and 90s forever

2 for personal reasons. I live in Geelong and work weekends and nights

3 still think the culture of the club is bad. Bryce Gibbs finally pulls his finger out and is made vice captain. I wonder what Simpson thought of that. Too much emphasis still on Judd and Malthouse eg individuals


On increasing membership I was recently on a holiday in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.
If the board had any sense they would put the time and energy into creating a presence up there.
Why
1 there are a million people living in the area 550000 in Newcastle alone. Combine the likes of Gosford and you have a 7 figure population
2 there is an AFL presence up there but it's not GWS and the Swans. The area is the last populated area in Australia that doesn't have an AFL team to support
3 the no 1 sports ground in Newcastle could host a game.Organise one when the Knights don't play.


Do it right and you would get 10000 members up there


That's what you have to do to get back on top

I have no doubt that onfield success will drive our membership up more than anything but you must look outside the box given the AFL landscape these days. Do you think Jeanie and co would think outside the box. Off course not

Anyway spending a week up there made me think what an opportunity an AFL club has in this area

I'm not a member these days for the following reasons in order of importance

1 the board is [REDACTED]. Pratts and Mathiesons. Need to go. Otherwise bold decisions won't be made and the club will be stuck in the 70, 80 and 90s forever

2 for personal reasons. I live in Geelong and work weekends and nights

3 still think the culture of the club is bad. Bryce Gibbs finally pulls his finger out and is made vice captain. I wonder what Simpson thought of that. Too much emphasis still on Judd and Malthouse eg individuals


On increasing membership I was recently on a holiday in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.
If the board had any sense they would put the time and energy into creating a presence up there.
Why
1 there are a million people living in the area 550000 in Newcastle alone. Combine the likes of Gosford and you have a 7 figure population
2 there is an AFL presence up there but it's not GWS and the Swans. The area is the last populated area in Australia that doesn't have an AFL team to support
3 the no 1 sports ground in Newcastle could host a game.Organise one when the Knights don't play.


Do it right and you would get 10000 members up there


That's what you have to do to get back on top

I have no doubt that onfield success will drive our membership up more than anything but you must look outside the box given the AFL landscape these days. Do you think Jeanie and co would think outside the box. Off course not

Anyway spending a week up there made me think what an opportunity an AFL club has in this area

Keogh are you advocating that Carlton tap into Sydney /NSW market .KK will be your friend for life.
Newcastle is rugby league heartland its a tougher market than western Sydney.
It we be a monumental effort to garnish a supporter base up there

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Well I signed up because I support Carlton.

Regardless of the board, regardless of living in WA and possibly getting to one game, regardless of Gibbs pulling his finger out.

Don't come and whinge about our lack of members if you sent signing up.

Of course the club could be better. That applies to almost every club.

By moaning and sooking you are part of the problem.

You obviously have enough interest in the place to be on tc every five minutes. I'm sure you could find a membership to suit your needs.

Hate to say it but we have fast become a nothing club.
Whether we like it or not, we have joined the likes of StKilda, Bulldogs & Kangaroos.
No home, no social club, no soul.
We had our chance to write a wrong and blew it. = No leadership!!!
The AFL have a lot to answer for but we haven't helped ourselves by being there puppet.