AFL CLUB membership has cracked one million for the first time, with 13 teams breaking their all-time records this season.  

The final tally for 2018 stood at 1,008,494 members by the July 31 deadline.

Melbourne’s contribution was higher than ever, with the club breaking its membership record for a third consecutive year.

The red and blue finished with 44,275 members; an increase on 2017’s tally of 42,223. The figure places Melbourne 13^th among the other clubs of the league.

Richmond (100,726), Hawthorn (80,302) and West Coast (80,290) were at the top of the membership ladder, while only Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs failed to grow their membership bases from last year.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said reaching the 1,000,000 members milestone was one to be proud of.

“One in every 24 Australians is now a member of an AFL club, a sign that the national reach of Australian football has never been greater,” McLachlan told afl.com.au.

“Whether you have been a member for decades or just signed up this year, on behalf of the AFL I want to thank every single one of you.

“The commitment members make to their clubs is the key reason why our game continues to prosper.

“Our clubs give us a connection. Our games fill us with hope, despair and joy, and today it makes us proud.”