AFTER recording a profit of more than $5 million last month on the back of 80,000 members in 2013, Collingwood has let the world know it has already signed 60,000 members for next season.

Despite finishing eighth after defeat in week one of the finals, losing premiership players Heath Shaw and Dale Thomas (to the Giants and Carlton respectively) and delisting Alan Didak, Darren Jolly and Andrew Krakouer, the Magpies are confident they will pass the 100,000 members' mark for the first time.  

Club president Eddie McGuire said it was a significant pre-Christmas result.

"Over the past seven years we have more than doubled our membership, which is why we are on track to break our target of 100,000 members," he said.

CEO Gary Pert said that 20,000 Collingwood members were from outside Victoria and they stayed connected through the club's digital offerings.

Collingwood's financial strength and huge membership has made it a significant voice in discussions around equalisation, which look set to dominate the AFL landscape in 2014.

After spending $22.5 million on its football department it is loath to accept any restraint on its spending.

The Magpies have been critical of the expenditure of some clubs in the pre-season, questioning their decisions to go overseas to altitude or heat training and want to ensure clubs that receive shared revenue are managed sensibly.