The AFL’s annual member audit has confirmed Port Adelaide has broken its membership record - a 3.7% increase on 2021.

JUST days after the club’s official membership reached a record 63,240, the AFL’s audited number was confirmed as 58,643.

This represents a 3.7% increase on last year’s record.

The AFL audit applies criteria across the league's 18 clubs to provide a standardised view of membership club-by-club and AFL-wide each year.

The primary difference between Port Adelaide’s official member number, and the AFL audited number, is the allocation of the Adelaide Oval stadium members who have access to all the Port Adelaide games, with Port Adelaide allocated 2,464 (31%) of the 8,000 members.

The club’s previous best audited number was 56,532 back in 2021, and Port Adelaide chief executive officer Matthew Richardson says it is a remarkable show of loyalty by the club’s supporters throughout a rollercoaster 2022 AFL season and their incredible support of the club’s inaugural season in the AFLW. 

Port Adelaide has seen a 3.7% increase on last year’s membership record. Image: AFL Photos.

“The passion and support of our members is something we never take for granted. You just needed to be here for the club’s first AFLW home game at Alberton Oval on Saturday to see why we have the best members and fans in the AFLW, and AFL.” Mr. Richardson said.

“We have a strategic focus of building the next generation of Port Adelaide and seeing the official audited member number present significant growth is really pleasing and something we’re very proud of.

“We have very loyal and supportive members and I know the players, coaches, staff and the board are extremely grateful for their unwavering support.”

Following the audit, 14 of the 18 AFL clubs broke their all-time records, and the overall member number across the competition had surpassed 1,190,671 - beating the previous record of 1,113,441 that was set in 2021. The 2022 total is 6.9 per cent growth on last year.