The Sydney Swans have taken out the title of most supported AFL team once again, with over one million supporters according to the most recent Roy Morgan AFL supporter ladder.
The Swans are the only club to soar past the one million mark, with the Pies in second place with 735,000 supporters. Despite their silver medal spot, Collingwood actually had a decrease in support of 3.2% on 2021's figures.
West Coast round out the top three and take the title of the top team in Western Australia with 707,000 supporters, while cross-town rivals Fremantle find themselves in twelfth spot with 355,000.
Of the top ten, five are Melbourne-based teams, with last year's grand finalists Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs sitting in 14th and 13th position, respectively, though both gaining a significant increase in support. The Demons earned a 15.5% increase for their drought-breaking premiership, while the Bulldogs had a 30% increase in support following their grand final loss.
The Gold Coast Suns have claimed the unwanted title of least supported club despite registering a 9.1% increase, while North Melbourne find themselves down the bottom of another ladder, sitting in 17th position as the least supported Victorian club.
Julian McCrann, Industry Communications Director at Roy Morgan, said the survey results were indicative of the growing game.
“Despite the huge disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the AFL industry is in ‘good health’ with a record of over 8.9 million Australians reporting they support one of the 18 AFL clubs – and increase of 271,000 (+3.1%) on a year ago," McCrann said.
“The increase in overall support for the code follows two years of heavily disrupted seasons with the AFL Grand Final being played outside Victoria for the first time in history – in Brisbane in 2020 and again last year in Perth.
“On both occasions it was two Victorian clubs that contested the Grand Final with Richmond winning their third Premiership in four years in 2020 and last year it was the Melbourne FC that broke a 57-year drought by winning their first ‘Grand Old Flag’ since 1964.
“Although they are further down the supporter ladder it is unsurprisingly the 2021 Grand Finalists who have had the biggest increases in support over the last year. The Western Bulldogs increased their support by a massive 30% from a year ago, up 78,000 (+30%) to 338,000 and despite losing the Grand Final they managed to overtake Melbourne FC with 313,000 supporters – an increase of 42,000 (+15.5%).
“The strong correlation between on-field success and growing supporter numbers is a constant theme with the annual AFL Club supporter rankings. Over the long-term clubs such as Collingwood, Essendon and since the mid-1990s the Sydney Swans have enjoyed sustained periods of on-field success – and the results have led to significant growth in supporters."
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