SINCE the announcement that Port Adelaide would enter the 2023 NAB AFLW competition, support for the club’s inaugural women's team has been incredible.
The almost 2,000 Port Adelaide AFLW Foundation Members have help set a new industry record for AFLW Club members.
Football fans have shown their support for the upcoming AFLW season, with a record-breaking 33,577 AFLW Club members signing up for season 2022.
The new figure surpasses the previous record of 25,782 set in season 2021 and marks the first time AFLW Club membership has broken the 30,000-member milestone
This year’s AFLW Club membership tally includes all 18 AFL Clubs, with the addition of newly licensed AFLW Clubs Essendon, Hawthorn, Sydney Swans and Port Adelaide.
Ten clubs have already surpassed individual AFLW Club membership tallies including Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Geelong Cats, Gold Coast SUNS, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Sydney Swans and North Melbourne who have surpassed 2,000 members for the first time, while a total of 14 clubs have reached more than 1,000 members each.
Despite not entering the competition until 2023, the Sydney Swans currently lead the overall 2022 AFLW Club membership tally with 3,501 members, while Port Adelaide has recorded 1,957 foundation members that currently positions the club in the top half of 2022 AFLW Club memberships.
AFL Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial Kylie Rogers said the new membership record reinforced the excitement ahead of the upcoming 2022 NAB AFLW competition.
“It’s fantastic to see football fans from across the country show their support for the sixth season of the NAB AFLW competition, which continues to go from strength to strength both on and off the field,” Ms. Rogers said.
“To reach record AFLW Club membership figures ahead of the first bounce of the 2022 NAB AFLW season is an outstanding achievement, and we’re excited to see this energy for women’s football continue in the lead up to the opening round on January 7.”
AFL General Manager of Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone said she was thrilled to see fans from the four new AFLW clubs get involved and drive some healthy competition amongst supporters.
“It’s extremely pleasing to see fans from our newly licensed AFLW Clubs support their teams ahead of their inclusion in the 2023 NAB AFLW Season and provide some healthy competition for our current AFLW club members to rise to the challenge and continue to show their passion for the game,” Ms. Livingstone said.
“With the festive season upon us and a new NAB AFLW Season around the corner, there’s no better time to buy a membership at your club and show your support for women’s football.”
The 2022 NAB AFLW Season marks the second year the competition will be ticketed, with admission prices frozen at $10 for adults and FREE for children under 18.
Fans can sign up as a Port Adelaide AFLW Foundation Member here.
