MORE than 650,000 fans became a member of their club in season 2011, the highest figure in competition history.

Aided by record membership increases for 10 clubs and the addition of a 17th team, the AFL's final combined membership figure at the June 30 deadline was 650,373 - up from 614,251 last year.

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou thanked fans for their support.

"On behalf of the AFL, I wish to thank those supporters who continue to make the commitment to join an AFL club," Demetriou said on Tuesday.

"Their passion for our game is the lifeblood of our sport across the country."

Club membership has now risen every year since 2001, with the only drop since 1990 coming in 2000, when the season started early to avoid a clash with the Sydney Olympics.

On the back of its drought-breaking 2010 premiership, Collingwood recorded a massive membership increase of nearly 20 per cent, taking its total to 71,271 - the highest of any club in history.

Port Adelaide recorded the second-largest increase of 12 per cent, due to its merger with the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL, while Richmond and Melbourne also recorded double-digit growth.

On top of the record membership figure, Demetriou said the League was also heading towards a record total attendance for the season.

"Membership and match-day attendances are the AFL's most important indicators of the game's health," Demetriou said.

"The clubs and players deserve great credit for the standard of the game on the field and also for the many hours that are invested in connecting with supporters in every part of the community."

Eight clubs - Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Richmond and West Coast - now boast membership bases of over 40,000.

Club
Access Members
Collingwood71,271
Hawthorn56,224
Adelaide44,719
Carlton43,791
West Coast43,216
Fremantle42,762
Essendon 42,559
Richmond 40,184
Geelong39,343 
St Kilda39,276
Melbourne36,937
Port Adelaide32,581
Western Bulldogs29,710
North Melbourne28,761
Sydney Swans27,106
Brisbane Lions20,792
Gold Coast Suns11,141