THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB has reached an historic milestone, surpassing 70,000 members for the first time in the club’s history.

The Demons achieved the ground-breaking record this week, with a tally of 70,516 on Wednesday morning. The achievement comes on the eve of a new AFLW season, and AFL and VFL Finals Series.

CEO Gary Pert acknowledged the significant tally and thanked the Demon faithful for their ongoing support.

“To have over 70,000 members jump on board is an incredible achievement and your unwavering loyalty and support means so much to everyone involved with the club,” Pert said.

“The passion and Demon Spirit which you, our members, show and the atmosphere you continue to create at our matches is special.

“This achievement is one we, as Melbourne people, should all be proud of – 70,000 members strong, as we prepare to kick off our AFLW campaign and finals for our AFL and VFL programs.

“On behalf of the Board, players and staff, I would like to thank each and every one of our members for signing up to be part of our journey in 2023. You play a pivotal role in our teams’ pursuit for success.”

The record comes ahead of Friday night’s AFLW season-opener, where the Demons will embark on a new season with more AFLW members than ever before.

“Our members mean so much to us, and we are so grateful for the ongoing support,” Demons AFLW captain Kate Hore said.

“From filling the stands of IKON Park on Friday night to coming out to Casey Fields later in the season, our members continue to show up for us. We can’t thank you all enough.

“To anyone still yet to sign up, we need your passion, your voice and your Demon Spirit this season. Join us as we embark on a new challenge.”

Melbourne AFL captain Max Gawn also highlighted the importance of each and every member, as the playing group prepare for an exciting finals campaign.

“Our members are the true heartbeat of our club, and their loyalty means a lot to the playing group,” Gawn said. 

“We feel their presence at every game, whether that be home or away. They're loud, proud, diehard Demons, who really do give us an edge.

“It's an honour to wear the Melbourne colours for such passionate and dedicated members, and we can’t wait to run out to a packed MCG, full of red and blue, next week.”

There will be plenty of opportunity for Melbourne members and supporters to celebrate; Friday night when the Demons take on Collingwood in Round 1 of the AFL Women’s competition, Saturday afternoon as Casey do battle with Footscray in the VFL Elimination Final and next Wednesday with an AFL open training session at Gosch’s Paddock.