MELBOURNE’S aim to crack 40,000 members for the first time has started strongly, with the club surpassing 20,000 members before December.

As at Monday, the Demons have signed 20,223 members for 2014 – more than 2,700 at the same stage last year.

Melbourne’s highest category of membership – the Legends membership – is almost sold out.

Although the club has reached 20,000 members by Christmas in the past three seasons, it is at least three weeks ahead of where it was in 2013.

The Dees have 800 new members and more than 700 who have returned to the club, after at least two seasons of non-membership.

But there are still more than 10,000 members from 2011-12 who haven’t rejoined the club at this stage.

With renewed hope at Melbourne, following the appointment of Paul Roos as coach, it is eager to see those people rejoin and help the red and blue break the 40,000 member barrier.

The club’s greatest membership tally in a season was 36,937 members in 2011.