The Tasmania Devils are yet to kick a football, but are already rewriting the AFL record books.
This week, the club hit 210,000 founding members – nearly double Collingwood’s previous membership record of 110,000 set last year.
The club says it is an extraordinary show of support for a team that won’t enter the competition until next season.
Around 110,000 members currently live in Tasmania, while another 20% were born on the island but have since moved interstate or overseas.
More than 20% of members have no direct connection to Tasmania at all but have simply fallen in love with the brand after visiting the state.
“We’re really excited to announce that the club will be surpassing 210,000 founding members,” said Consumer Business Manager Jesse O’Hara.
“When we set out to build this club we hoped many Tasmanians will get behind us and they have done resoundingly.”
The membership demographics paint an encouraging picture for the club’s future. 20% of members are under 19, while 35% are under 29 and nearly 40% are girls and women.
CEO Brendon Gale said the youth engagement was particularly energising for the club’s long-term prospects.
“To have so many young Tasmanians and young fans is such a healthy sign for our future and shows that the engagement for this club runs wide and deep across the community,” he said.
“We strongly believe the Tasmania Football Club will provide significant on- and off-field opportunities for young Tasmanians.”
The membership surge puts the Devils in rare company, with most expansion clubs typically launching with 25,000 to 35,000 members.
$10 founding memberships are still available, with a closing date to be announced in the coming months.
