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West Coast Eagles remain top of AFL membership ladder, double Fremantle Dockers’ tally

Samantha RogersThe West Australian
West Coast have cemented their spot on top of the AFL’s official membership tally, despite a disappointing season in 2021. 
Camera IconWest Coast have cemented their spot on top of the AFL’s official membership tally, despite a disappointing season in 2021.  Credit: Ryan Miller/Optus Stadium/Ryan Miller/Optus Stadium

West Coast have cemented their spot on top of the AFL’s official membership tally, despite a disappointing season in 2021.

It is the second consecutive season the Eagles have held the number one spot with 206,422 member, the second time the club has broken the 100,000 mark.

West Coast’s tally is double that of the Fremantle, who are in 12th spot with 50,342 members.

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The Dockers, who entered the league just under a decade after the Eagles, sit above Sydney (50,144), Western Bulldogs (46,541), North Melbourne (46,289) and Brisbane (40,289).

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Expansion clubs GWS and Gold Coast have the least members with 30, 185 and 19,460, respectively.

Reigning premiers Richmond (105, 084) are in second place, the fourth year in a row the club has recorded 100,000 members after becoming the first to do so in 2018.

The remaining Big Four Victorian clubs - Collingwood (82,527), Essendon (81,662) and Carlton (81,302) - round out the top five.

West Coast have cemented their spot on top of the AFL’s official membership tally, despite a disappointing season in 2021. 
Camera IconWest Coast have cemented their spot on top of the AFL’s official membership tally, despite a disappointing season in 2021.  Credit: Will Russell/AFL Photos

AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan thanked fans for their continued support during the coronavirus pandemic, with most members retaining their paid memberships despite not being able to attend the full fixture of games in 2020 and 2021.

“The connection that footy supporters have with their clubs is unmatched in world sport,” McLachlan said.

“The COVID pandemic has meant we have had another challenging season – border closures, crowd caps, no crowds, week by week fixtures, moving matches and even home games in different states – but the one constant has been the loyalty and unwavering support of members.

“On behalf of the AFL, I want to say thank you to every single person who has signed up this year.”

The AFL’s 2021 tally was made up of 726,897 adults, 99,807 concession and 286,737 junior members.

AFL 2021 MEMBERSHIP LADDER

1. West Coast Eagles 106,422

2. Richmond 105,084

3. Collingwood 82,527

4. Essendon 81,662

5. Carlton 81,302

6. Hawthorn 77,079

7. Geelong 70,293

8. Adelaide Crows 60,232

9. Port Adelaide 56,532

10. St Kilda 55,802

11. Melbourne 53,188

12. Fremantle 50,342

13. Sydney 50,144

14. Western Bulldogs 46,541

15. North Melbourne 46,357

16. Brisbane Lions 40,289

17. GWS Giants 30,185

18. Gold Coast Suns 19,460

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