AFL 2025 membership: Who broke records and who didn’t

The AFL club membership ladder has hit an all‑time high in 2025, with a staggering 1,363,437 Australians now signed up as club members – a 3.26 per cent increase on last year’s record total.

It means one in 20 Australians is now a member of an AFL club, underlining the game’s massive national footprint and the unwavering loyalty of its fans.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said the achievement was a tribute to the fans’ dedication and the tireless efforts of clubs in connecting with their communities.

“We have the greatest fans in the world, supporting the game week in and week out and backing their clubs by becoming members in record numbers,” Dillon said.

“From the AFL and the clubs, I thank all club members and the seven million plus fans who attended a game this season – the loyalty shown makes our game great.”

Fourteen clubs broke their own membership records, including Collingwood, which notched the highest‑ever individual club tally of 112,491 members. West Coast (107,079) and Carlton (100,743) also surpassed the 100,000 mark.

The 2025 AFL club membership ladder shows Brisbane had the highest growth with an 18.7 per cent spike, while Port Adelaide, North Melbourne and Gold Coast all posted increases above 10 per cent. Six clubs welcomed more than 15,000 new members this year alone.

It was also a big year for the AFLW, with a 15 per cent rise in memberships to 79,309 – and counting, as sales continue through the season.

Memberships spanned generations, from centenarians to newborns, highlighting the code’s deep cultural connection across all age groups.

Fans also turned out in force, with 7.65 million attending matches in 2025 – the third time the AFL has broken the seven million mark.

2025 AFL Club Membership Totals:

1. Collingwood* – 112,491
2. West Coast* – 107,079
3. Carlton – 100,743
4. Richmond – 92,531
5. Geelong* – 92,379
6. Hawthorn* – 87,204
7. Essendon – 85,568
8. Adelaide* – 81,067
9. Sydney* – 76,674
10. Brisbane* – 75,115
11. Port Adelaide* – 72,656
12. Fremantle* – 66,179
13. Western Bulldogs* – 65,584
14. St Kilda* – 65,509
15. Melbourne – 58,563
16. North Melbourne* – 56,283
17. GWS GIANTS* – 37,705
18. Gold Coast SUNS* – 30,107
(*Club membership record in 2025)