ADELAIDE star Patrick Dangerfield has opened a hornets' nest, questioning the validity of fierce rivals Port Adelaide boasting a bigger membership.

The AFL has announced a total club membership of 836,136, up from last year's 804,480.

Port, the Sydney Swans and the Western Bulldogs all achieved double-digit growth.

By contrast, Adelaide, Carlton and Collingwood were the only clubs not to increase last year's total.

Port Adelaide's membership shot up 48,968 to 54,057, an increase of 10.39 per cent and a club record.

Adelaide slipped from 54,249 to 52,290.

It is the first time the Power have had a bigger membership than the Crows, but Dangerfield has quickly queried how many of them are full members.

"It's interesting, because I think out of that 54, there's about 10,000 pet members that Port have," Dangerfield joked on radio FIVEaa.

"There are probably plenty of three-game members that Port Adelaide have.

"We're more interested in the whole season - the 11 home games.

"I'm not sure those statistics are perfectly right."

Dangerfield later noted the Power faithful would not take kindly to his thoughts.

"Port fans are going to hate me now," he said.

The Power are among 12 clubs who have record memberships.

Collingwood continue to lead with 75,037 members, with Hawthorn (72,924) and Richmond (70,809) breaking through 70,000 for the first time.