West Coast fans celebrate a goal against Richmond in round 13, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

THE ALL-time AFL club membership record has been broken despite the COVID-19 pandemic limiting attendance, with 1,113,441 members signing up for the 2021 season.

It breaks the previous record set in 2019 of 1,057,572 and is a 12 per cent increase on last year's tally of 992,854.

An astonishing one in 23 Australians is a member of an AFL club, with a breakdown of 726,897 adults, 99,807 concessional members and 286,737 juniors. 

>> READ THE FULL AFL STATEMENT

Ten AFL clubs broke their all-time membership records: Brisbane, Carlton, Geelong, Gold Coast, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda, and West Coast Eagles.

West Coast and Richmond topped the 100,000 mark for the second and fourth time respectively, with the Eagles sitting at the top of the tree with 106,422 members.

Brisbane fans cheer their side's AFLW Grand Final win over Adelaide in 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

AFLW memberships are also on the rise, with an all-time record of 25,782 set, topped by St Kilda and West Coast. The AFLW has had free access to its games up until this season, where tickets were $10.

The cut-off for club memberships was July 31, and 16 of the 18 clubs saw increases on last year.

>> CHECK OUT EVERY CLUB'S FINAL TALLY BELOW

"The connection that footy supporters have with their clubs is unmatched in world sport,” AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said.

"The COVID pandemic has meant we have had another challenging season – border closures, crowd caps, no crowds, week-by-week fixtures, moving matches and even home games in different states – but the one constant has been the loyalty and unwavering support of members.

"On behalf of the AFL, I want to say thank you to every single person who has signed up this year."

Essendon fans celebrate a goal against Richmond in round 12, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

2021 CLUB MEMBERSHIP TOTALS

 CLUB

2021 TOTAL

Adelaide Crows

60,232

Brisbane Lions

40,289 (club record)

Carlton

81,302 (club record)

Collingwood

82,527

Essendon

81,662

Fremantle

50,342

Geelong Cats

70,293 (club record)

Gold Coast SUNS

19,460 (club record)

GWS GIANTS

30,185

Hawthorn

77,079

Melbourne

53,188 (club record)

North Melbourne

46,357 (club record)

Port Adelaide

56,532 (club record)

Richmond

105,084 (club record)

St Kilda

55,802 (club record)

Sydney Swans

50,144

West Coast Eagles

106,422 (club record)

Western Bulldogs

46,541

TOTAL

1,113,441