Title: Sydney Swans Join Nine AFL Clubs in Breaking Membership Records for 2023
The AFL is witnessing an extraordinary surge in membership numbers for the 2023 season, with an impressive nine clubs already breaking their record tallies. Joining this list is the Sydney Swans, who surpassed 62,000 members on Thursday night, despite their disappointing campaign thus far. This remarkable increase in fan support can be attributed to the Swans’ appearance in last year’s Grand Final.
The trend of surpassing membership records set in the previous season is prevalent among most AFL clubs this year. Currently, Richmond leads the pack in terms of membership numbers for 2023, with Collingwood, despite their recent struggles, likely to be closer to their membership record than the reported figure of 90,000 suggests.
Moreover, the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants are also preparing to surpass their own membership record, suggesting that the upward trend in fan support is not limited to just Sydney but extends to other football clubs in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland.
Earlier this year, the AFL proudly announced that it had reached over one million total memberships across all 18 clubs. This notable accomplishment was achieved three weeks ahead of the record-breaking year of 2022, which saw a total of 1,190,671 members.
As the Sydney Swans enter Round 18, they are celebrating a new membership record for 2023. Swans CEO, Tom Harley, expressed his gratitude to the dedicated members while sharing the club’s goal of reaching 65,000 members by the end of the season. Harley acknowledged the tremendous growth of the club’s supporter base in Sydney since their relocation in 1982, emphasizing their strong connection to their heritage in South Melbourne.
Harley personally thanked the 62,000 plus members who joined this season, applauding their loyalty during both good and challenging times. Whether supporting the team at the SCG, in Melbourne, or from afar, the Swans value and appreciate their fans’ unwavering support.
While reaching this significant milestone, the Swans are not resting on their laurels. They remain committed to their overall membership goal of 65,000 by the end of the season. Recognizing the importance of being a member, the club eagerly looks forward to welcoming more fans to experience the unique benefits of being a member of the Sydney Swans.
The AFL continues to witness an impressive surge in membership numbers for the 2023 season, with nine clubs already surpassing their previous records. The Sydney Swans’ achievement of breaking their own membership record reflects the growing support for AFL clubs across the board. As the season progresses, it appears highly likely that the total AFL membership record of 2022 will be surpassed once again, further solidifying the passionate fan base of Australian Rules football.
