Pies with the biggest rise, 14 clubs reach new records: Final AFL membership ladder for 2022

The AFL are celebrating a new league-wide club membership record in 2022, seeing over 1.1 million members sign up for this season.

The total of 1,190,671 members is a 6.9 per cent increase from last year's tally, which was also a record figure for the league.

2022's tally sees one in 22 Australians signed to an AFL club, with 14 of the 18 AFL clubs reaching new records this year, while 16 clubs saw growth from the year prior.

A trio of clubs broke the 100,000 membership barrier in 2022, with West Coast, Richmond and Collingwood - who surpassed the milestone for the first time - leading the way.

The Magpies were also the biggest riser year-on-year, gaining 17,857 more members than their 2021 tally.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan expressed his delight in the record tally, stating the AFL's fanbase is "unmatched in global sport".

"Footy's bounce back in 2022 has revived the heartbeat in cities around the country and that is testament to all supporters and members barracking for their clubs," McLachlan said in a league statement.

"Over 1.19 million members, over 6.1 million fans attending the matches around the country in the home and away season, a remarkable 263,000 fans attended week one of the finals, sell outs for three of the four matches.

"The connection that footy supporters have with their clubs is unmatched in global sport and I am so incredibly proud of all the supporters of our game around the country,

"On behalf of the AFL, I'd like to thank all our fans and every club member whose passion and support makes footy the greatest game in the world."

Memberships were counted after August 31.

2022 AFL membership ladder

1. West Coast 102,897
2. Richmond 100,792
3. Collingwood 100,384 *
4. Carlton 88,776*
5. Essendon 86,001*
6. Hawthorn 81,494*
7. Geelong 71,943*
8. Melbourne 66,484*
9. Adelaide 63,009
10. St Kilda 60,172*
11. Port Adelaide 58,643*
12. Fremantle 56,105*
13. Sydney 55,394
14. Western Bulldogs 50,941*
15. North Melbourne 50,191*
16. Brisbane Lions 43,319*
17. GWS Giants 32,614*
18. Gold Coast 21,422*

*Clubs with record membership totals in 2022