10 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

So at this time of year it looks as though we're 3,000 ahead of 2025 but 6,000 behind our peak year of 2023.

I think we will max out at 60,000 however Paul wants us at 65,000.

North - 46,000

Bulldogs - 54,000

St Kilda - 65,000 +

I'm a firm believer that with all things being equal we should be above those three clubs and be mid tier VIC club in terms of membership. Not the second worst.

The Saints are lucky that a lot of the members auto-renewed after their Nas $7 membership drive. If they tumble this year, watch that number plummet next year for them.

You could tell just from Sunday's game where we dwarfed them in supporters that there's no substance behind their 65k number.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

So at this time of year it looks as though we're 3,000 ahead of 2025 but 6,000 behind our peak year of 2023.

I think we will max out at 60,000 however Paul wants us at 65,000.

North - 46,000

Bulldogs - 54,000

St Kilda - 65,000 +

I'm a firm believer that with all things being equal we should be above those three clubs and be mid tier VIC club in terms of membership. Not the second worst.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

So at this time of year it looks as though we're 3,000 ahead of 2025 but 6,000 behind our peak year of 2023.

I think we will max out at 60,000 however Paul wants us at 65,000.

North - 46,000

Bulldogs - 54,000

St Kilda - 65,000 +

I'm a firm believer that with all things being equal we should be above those three clubs and be mid tier VIC club in terms of membership. Not the second worst.

75,000 should be the target if we are contending for premierships.

On MFC website on membership page

Based on previous years ( see page 1 for membership updates and actual numbers from past years), we will max out at 60,000.

Whatever margin we have over the previous year at this point is the same come year end.

So we will be about 3k up in total on last year.

On 23/03/2026 at 09:47, george_on_the_outer said:

Based on previous years ( see page 1 for membership updates and actual numbers from past years), we will max out at 60,000.

Whatever margin we have over the previous year at this point is the same come year end.

So we will be about 3k up in total on last year.

51,076.

I don't understand why people get so fixated on membership numbers.

At some point someone will offer a $1 membership just to boost numbers, and will clearly lose money in doing so.

I want to know what our $$$ income from memberships is relative to previous years and relative to other clubs.

I suspect the drop in $$$ since 2023 is significantly greater than the drop in membership numbers.

Belatedly did the MFC/MCC dual membership today.
Already counted as a Digital Member but another one for the tally.

16 minutes ago, poita said:

I don't understand why people get so fixated on membership numbers.

At some point someone will offer a $1 membership just to boost numbers, and will clearly lose money in doing so.

I want to know what our $$$ income from memberships is relative to previous years and relative to other clubs.

I suspect the drop in $$$ since 2023 is significantly greater than the drop in membership numbers.

You are right that membership revenue is down significantly.

I have a different view re membership numbers though - I would rather offer a $30 3 game membership right now (throw kids in for free). Push it hard - have an active "ground game" at the G. What is the asset we have as a Club - half the MCG to fill for most of our home games?

With that offer you get another member to the G at an affordable price (in these tough times), maybe with kids and, most importantly, you have a name and a contact to follow up on later - instead of what we have at the moment - tens of thousands of Melbourne supporters who are quietly sitting out there - who occasionally go to a game (oh, I'll just buy a GA, or go with a friend who is a member). So much more we could be doing I reckon.

5 hours ago, poita said:

I don't understand why people get so fixated on membership numbers.

At some point someone will offer a $1 membership just to boost numbers, and will clearly lose money in doing so.

I want to know what our $$$ income from memberships is relative to previous years and relative to other clubs.

I suspect the drop in $$$ since 2023 is significantly greater than the drop in membership numbers.

Membership numbers are ALL about sponsorship.

Companies who do sponsorship are only interested in the number of eyes that are looking at their product.

It costs us nothing to "sell" cheap $1 memberships, as the fixed costs of opening the stadium etc are already covered by everyone else.

Membership income in 2025 it was $11.5M down from $12.5 M the previous year. $12.5 in 2023.

Sponsorship was $11.2 M, almost the same as 2024. $12.1M in 2023

Membership numbers 59K in 2025, 65K in 2024. , 70K in 2023

So membership down 15%, membership income down 8%, sponsorship down 7.5%.... since 2023. So $$$'s down 15.5% since 2023...about the same as membership numbers.

Collingwood doesn't break down their accounts into sponsorship income, it looks like it is called commercial activities.

112K members, $43M from membership and match day, $25M from commercial activities.

So double the membership numbers...double the sponsorship, and almost 4 times the membership income!

P.S. the membership numbers are shady across the whole AFL. Dogs, cats, $1 memberships, free memberships, kids, membership of AFLW, are all counted

Edited Wednesday at 10:395 days by george_on_the_outer

I am not going to be (much) interested in relative memberships until the comparisons are of the total membership incomes.

At the moment we're not even comparing fruits!

Give me match day attendance over membership numbers every day of the week.

3 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Give me match day attendance over membership numbers every day of the week.

15 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

I am not going to be (much) interested in relative memberships until the comparisons are of the total membership incomes.

At the moment we're not even comparing fruits!

Exactly. As I’ve previously posted, St Kilda has around 12k (I think it was roughly that amount), sign up during the pre-season for their $1 special membership. I highly doubt all of those people completed the final payment; yet, are still counted towards being members.

I am a redleg member which I consider a donation to the club as I dont get down to enjoy the games with my melbiourne based mates who are all also redleg members. I get to sit with them and enjoy the pre and post match events.

Its easy to do as I just pay a fortnightly amount on automatic instalment.

It is fortunately supported by the really friendly membership staff who also assist me on match days when I bring friends along (usually at the last minute)