IT ISN'T quite the time of year to be playing games just yet, but football's off-field season is just about to enter the final quarter.

Clubs have been selling 2015 memberships since last October with their plaintive pleas to supporters of hope, belonging and expectation.

It is increasingly difficult for AFL club and marketing types to stay on message and be original. Eighteen clubs, 18 different slogans, year after year after year… you try to walk in their shoes.

Still, there has been some clever word play in recent years. 'Don the Sash' appeals out of Essendon, 'Stand Tall' works well for a team nicknamed the Giants as does 'Pride' for the Brisbane Lions.

Borrowing a line from club songs has been a theme this year. 'My Heart Beats True' at Melbourne, Richmond is 'Strong and Bold' while Carlton reminds us again that 'We Are The Navy Blues'.

It is a safe and sensible effort from the Blues, whose efforts in previous years have been among the more dubious, such as 'They Know We're Coming (2009)' and 'Can You Smell What The Blues Are Cooking? (2010). The Blues finished eighth that year, so whatever was on the stove at Visy Park wasn't all that flash.

Still, Carlton's 2010 effort only wins the bronze medal when it comes to truly questionable membership slogans. Hawthorn's 2005 membership renewal exhorted supporters to become 'Hardcore Hawthorn', a perplexing effort from the same outfit that also liked to call itself 'The Family Club'.

However, when it comes to questionable campaigns, the runaway winner is undoubtedly Essendon and its unfortunate 2013 slogan 'Whatever It Takes' - if only the marketing team had known what was about to unfold. 

ADELAIDE
2015 members: 50,000+ (Adelaide was unable to provide the exact membership tally).
This time last year: Approximately 48,000
2014 members: 57,500
Slogan: Unleash 2015
Check out Adelaide membership packages here