SLOGAN: Fly As One
2015 TALLY: 52,920
CURRENT TALLY: 41,000
ONLINE HUB: the19thman.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: A new coach in Don Pyke brings a little uncertainty to West Lakes, but the signs late in this season suggest 2016 will be a year to remember. The performance of Taylor Walker as skipper, the emergence of Charlie Cameron, the circus tricks of Eddie Betts, the Crows have a list quite capable of offering members value for money. Add to the mix Troy Menzel and Adelaide has one of the League's most attractive forward lines. The playing and coaching groups began a journey under Phil Walsh and will continue it under Pyke; with a host of young talent mixing with experienced heads, the Crows are primed for another September appearance. – Harry Thring

SLOGAN: 'Believe. Belong'; Membership campaign: 'Your Club. Represent'
2015 TALLY: 25,452
CURRENT TALLY: 13,096
ONLINE HUB: membership.lions.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: The only way is up for your team. A fit midfield of Dayne Beams, Pearce Hanley, Tom Rockliff, Daniel Rich and Stefan Martin is mouth-watering. And after years of the Lions crying out for key forwards, exciting No.2 draft pick Josh Schache is on board, along with proven Geelong recruit Josh Walker. Those midfielders now have more options to kick to. Then there's the young Queensland talent to cheer for – Jono Freeman, Ben Keays, Eric Hipwood and last season's sensation Harris Andrews. A quarter of the list is now home grown. And if you're a Victorian, there's seven games coming your way in 2016 – the most for a very long time. - Michael Whiting 

SLOGAN: Bound By Blue
2015 TALLY: 47,305
CURRENT TALLY: 25,544
ONLINE HUB: membership.carltonfc.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: Next season will bring its share of on-field pain for the rebuilding Blues but there is still enough to look forward to. List manager Stephen Silvagni netted the club a host of early Christmas presents at last week's NAB AFL Draft and Carlton supporters should see some of them unwrapped in 2016. No.1 pick Jacob Weitering could play as early as round one, while key forwards Harry McKay (No.10) and Charlie Curnow (No.12) and midfielder David Cuningham (No.23) are all good chances to debut at some stage. It will also be intriguing to see what changes new coach Brendon Bolton makes to Carlton's game plan, and what impact recycled recruits such as Lachie Plowman, Jed Lamb, Sam Kerridge and Matthew Wright can have. Blues fans will also draw solace from watching third-year midfielder Patrick Cripps establish himself among the game's elite inside ball-winners and from Bryce Gibbs' return to form after an injury-plagued 2015. - Nick Bowen 

SLOGAN: 'Side By Side'
2015 TALLY: 75,037
CURRENT TALLY: 55,000
ONLINE HUB: membership.collingwoodfc.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: Whether you think Nathan Buckley is doing the right thing by Collingwood or not, it is hard to argue with the excitement surrounding the club's improving list. The acquisitions of Adam Treloar and James Aish, as well as high-flyer Jeremy Howe, were critical in improving the club's midfield and forward line stocks. While Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan will continue to be the figureheads in the side, the onus will be on youngsters Treloar, Aish, Taylor Adams, Jamie Elliott, Brodie Grundy, Tom Langdon, Jarrod Witts, Jack Frost and Darcy Moore to propel the Magpies up the ladder. – Ben Guthrie

Odds are this bloke will be a paid-up Magpie member again in 2016. Picture: AFL Media

SLOGAN: 'Don The Sash' (Essendon is likely to add an extra tag-line to its membership campaign early next year)
2015 TALLY: 60,818
CURRENT TALLY: Approximately 28,000
ONLINE HUB: membership.essendonfc.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: A new coach, a bunch of new players and a new optimism around the Bombers after three of the club's worst years in its history. Things can only get better for Essendon from here. The end of the ASADA/WADA investigation is in sight, and the club has quickly regenerated its list to focus on youth and start the climb back up the ladder. West Coast's 2006 premiership coach John Worsfold takes over the reins as senior coach and is likely to give many youngsters a shot. While we're at it, there's not much more exciting for a struggling club than top-end draft talent. So Essendon fans are already counting down the days until they see top-10 picks Darcy Parish and Aaron Francis debut in the red and black. After a record membership tally last year in trying circumstances, there's no reason why the Bombers shouldn't expect another jump in 2016. – Callum Twomey 

SLOGAN: Forever Freo
2015 TALLY: 51,522
CURRENT TALLY: 46,283
ONLINE HUB: membership.fremantlefc.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: Dockers fans are getting used to watching their team play finals and they are still hopeful of achieving the ultimate goal. Nat Fyfe is worth the price of a membership alone as is new recruit Harley Bennell. Fyfe could spend more time forward next year and they will see goals from the pair of them. Dockers fans may see a more attacking brand in 2016 as the club looks to find a formula to capture that elusive premiership. They will also get to see club legend Matthew Pavlich play again after there was a chance he was going to retire at the end of last season. – Alex Malcolm

SLOGAN: 'Greatness – Our Tradition. Our Ambition.'
2015 TALLY: 44,312
CURRENT TALLY: 34,000
ONLINE HUB: membership.geelongcats.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: On entering Geelong, motorists are greeted by a big banner boasting two beaming figures both decked out in the famous blue and white hoops. One of them is three-time premiership star and current skipper Joel Selwood; the other is star recruit and hometown hero Patrick Dangerfield. Watching the duo strut their stuff alongside each other in the midfield will be one of the most fascinating subplots down at the Cattery in 2016. Dangerfield's homecoming, plus the club's anticipated return to finals – after adding Scott Selwood, Lachie Henderson and Zac Smith in the off-season – make the Cats an exciting team to track next year. – Ben Guthrie

Cats members can grab a shot of Patrick Dangerfield in their colours next year. Picture: AFL Media

SLOGAN: 'We Are GC SUNS'
2015 TALLY: 13,643
CURRENT TALLY: 7328
ONLINE HUB: goldcoastfcmembership.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: Among the rubble of 2015, there are so many reasons to be excited for 2016. First and foremost you get to see the game's best player, Gary Ablett, every second week. And with any semblance of luck, he'll have his midfield sidekicks in Dion Prestia, David Swallow and Jaeger O'Meara alongside him all the way. That quartet can match any in the competition. In Adam Saad, Touk Miller and Kade Kolodjashnij you have three young players who showed their class under duress last season and can only improve in a better team. And Suns fans, in Tom Lynch you've got yourselves one of the best five key forwards in the AFL – enjoy it. -  Michael Whiting 

SLOGAN: 'Expect big things'
2015 TALLY: 13,480
CURRENT TALLY: 6000 (up 25 per cent on same time in 2014)
ONLINE HUB: membership.gwsgiants.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: Giants members are a massive chance to witness history in 2016 if the richly talented playing list can stay on the park. A maiden finals berth beckons, and if GWS can re-produce some of the form it showed early last season then it'll be a hell of an exciting ride. In full-forward Jeremy Cameron, midfielders Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith, club champion Heath Shaw, and three-time premiership Cat Steve Johnson, the Giants have some of the most dynamic players in the competition, and anyone who witnessed their round six win over Hawthorn in 2015 knows how brilliant they are to watch when they're firing. – Adam Curley

SLOGAN: 'HAWTHORN. ALWAYS.'
2015 TALLY: 72,924
CURRENT TALLY: 54,110
ONLINE HUB: membership.hawthornfc.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: Quite simple, really. Become a Hawthorn member in 2016 for a front-row seat as the Hawks seek to become just the second club in League history to win four consecutive premierships. Hawks members get to spend every second week watching some of the true greats of the modern game such as Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Cyril Rioli strut their stuff. In 2016 the Hawks play all seven of their Victorian home games at the MCG and included among them are blockbusters against West Coast, Collingwood, Richmond, North Melbourne and the Sydney Swans. The replacement games include Geelong and Richmond at the MCG and the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. The Aurora Stadium draw features two games in a season against Victorian clubs for the first time, with both St Kilda and Carlton making the trip to Launceston. - Ashley Browne 

SLOGAN: 'My Heart Beats True'
2015 TALLY: 35,953
CURRENT TALLY: 24,402
ONLINE HUB: membership.melbournefc.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: The upcoming season marks Paul Roos' last year in charge before he hands the reins to coach-in-waiting Simon Goodwin. Roos has seen improvement in his two seasons in charge but this year is pivotal in terms of the club's long-term vision of returning to the finals for the first time since 2006. Those fortunes will largely depend on the continual improvement of star forward Jesse Hogan, Angus Brayshaw and the returning Christian Petracca. Petracca's return – after having his first season ruined by a torn ACL – will be eagerly anticipated by Melbourne supporters. How Clayton Oliver and Sam Weideman – the club's top draft choices – fare will also be of interest to Demons supporters. The nucleus for a developing side is there, it's now up to the club to turn potential into sustained performances. – Ben Guthrie   

SLOGAN: To be launched in February
2015 TALLY: 41,012
CURRENT TALLY: 24,829
ONLINE HUB: membership.nmfc.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: North is coming off two consecutive preliminary final appearances and is confident of more on-field success in 2016. Former Hawk Jed Anderson will add midfield dash and if Daniel Wells breaks his wretched recent injury run, North could find the outside edge it will need to challenge for the club's fifth flag. Under coach Brad Scott, the Roos play an attractive brand of footy and can score quickly when their three-pronged forward line of Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite and Ben Brown is firing. And every North fan will want to be there if Brent Harvey breaks Michael Tuck's VFL/AFL games record. Should the five-time best-and-fairest winner play every game, he will go past Tuck's 426-game mark in round 19 against St Kilda, which appropriately is a North home game at Etihad Stadium. – Nick Bowen

Roos members certainly came out to play in 2015 as their club made an elimination final. Picture: AFL Media

SLOGAN: We Are Port Adelaide
2015 TALLY: 54,057
CURRENT TALLY: 38,023
ONLINE HUB: weareportadelaide.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: One word: redemption. The Power may have set a new membership record this season but that membership was let down by poor on-field results in a year that promised so much. The faithful hardly need reminding that almost every pundit in the League had Port as a serious premiership contender at the start of 2015 and so to miss the finals was an epic fail in anyone's language. The club claims lessons have been learnt and the playing group would be training hard this summer, more determined than ever to rebound up the ladder after the success of 2013/14. A new star in Charlie Dixon makes the club's best 22 – on paper – appear incredibly threatening. – Harry Thring

SLOGAN: 'Strong and Bold'
2015 TALLY: 70,809
CURRENT TALLY: 52,173
ONLINE HUB: membership.richmondfc.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: They might not have progressed beyond the first week of finals in three tries but the fact remains they've qualified each season since 2013 and are well placed to win one. Now, with Chris Yarran to give them more dash and pace off half back, a new Rioli – recent draftee Daniel – to fill a role as a genuine small forward plus increased midfield depth with Jacob Townsend and Andrew Moore coming in, they've made some handy additions to their list and only lost players through retirement (Chris Newman, Nathan Foley, Chris Knights, Ricky Petterd and Matt Thomas). Brett Deledio says he's fit and set for a big year after two summers affected by injury while last year's first-round draft selection Corey Ellis presents as a new recruit after persistent problems with his foot cruelled his debut season. – Jennifer Phelan 

SLOGAN: 'How I Want To Be'; Membership campaign: 'Keep Belonging. Start Believing.'
2015 TALLY: 32,746
CURRENT TALLY: 23,634
ONLINE HUB: saintsmembership.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: There were plenty of reasons for Saints fans to feel optimistic at the end of this season, despite the fact they trailed off somewhat after round 16. Their aggressive and attacking brand of football was embraced by the young players with Jack Lonie and Jack Sinclair breathing new life into a forward line that for the first time featured Josh Bruce, and the older players were reinvigorated by the way they exceeded expectations with Sean Dempster finishing third in the best and fairest, narrowly ahead of Leigh Montagna. The off-season signing of Jake Carlisle adds more experience to their backline and Nathan Freeman's move gives them more midfield depth, and with Nick Riewoldt poised for a better season after a long rest and managed pre-season program after an emotional year, there's hope the fruits of the Saints' rebuild won't take as a long to bear as initially thought. – Jennifer Phelan. 

SLOGAN: 'Welcome to the spectacular'
2015 TALLY: 48,836
CURRENT TALLY: 19,159 (up on 17,196 members at same time in 2014)
ONLINE HUB: membership.sydneyswans.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: Swans members sign up because they know what they're going to get. Week in, week out, you'd be hard pressed to find a more competitive playing list in the competition, and in 2016, the fans will get more of the same. The Swans' brand of footy is hard, tough, and committed, led by reigning club champion Josh Kennedy and co-captain Kieren Jack, yet they have guns in the side who can do the unimaginable, like Lance Franklin and Luke Parker. Most footy fans would be delighted to go into a season thinking they're not only finals certainties, but a chance to challenge for a flag, and Swans supporters are lucky enough to face that scenario in 2016. – Adam Curley

Ted Richards will be going round again next year in front of the Swans' members. Picture: AFL Media

SLOGAN: The West is United
2015 TALLY: 60,221
CURRENT TALLY: 41,038
ONLINE HUB: wcemembership.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: Eagles fans rarely need any extra reason to buy a membership when the team is up and firing. Adam Simpson's group is not going anywhere after their Grand Final appearance. They have added the pace and dash of Lewis Jetta and another experienced midfielder in Jack Redden. Nic Naitanui will continue to be a human highlight reel and will provide silver service to a midfield that keeps getting better. The return of Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown will give Jeremy McGovern the freedom to push forward and add to an already potent mix. Eagles fans will see a lot of big wins next year. – Alex Malcolm 

SLOGAN: #gatherthepack #bemorebulldog
2015 TALLY: 35,222
CURRENT TALLY: 20,687
ONLINE HUB: membership.westernbulldogs.com.au

REASONS TO BUY: After a few lean years, the Bulldog faithful got a pleasant surprise in 2015 when Luke Beveridge took the Dogs from bottom-four strugglers to finalists inside 12 months. The Dogs played the AFL's most exciting brand of footy with their run-and-gun style of play capturing the football world's attention. With arguably the best youngsters in the AFL including Jake Stringer, Marcus Bontempelli, Luke Dahlhaus and Jack Macrae, the Bulldogs look set for a sustained run at the top of the ladder.  Those pups, complemented by some hardened veterans, have many believing the Dogs are a legitimate premiership chance next year. So there's no reason not to be a member and #bemorebulldog in 2016. – Ryan Davidson