AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the result - which saw most clubs perform well in the membership stakes - was especially pleasing considering the tough economic circumstances.
"The financial crisis showed a clear impact on clubs with a significant drop in their returns from corporate hospitality and events," Demetriou said on Tuesday when he released the 2009 club financial review.
"Despite that, our clubs were able to take total membership to a record level of 586,748 and clubs were able to build the total number of sponsorship packages they were able to partner with companies, who recognised the strong value of an agreement with an AFL club."
Club sponsorship revenue increased by four per cent during 2009.
Combined club profitability across the competition dropped by $5 million, largely due to a significant decrease in corporate hospitality and the global financial crisis.
Still, some clubs managed to increase revenue and maintain cost levels. AFL attendances were also the third-best in history, with a new record finals attendance of more than 615,000.
Operating revenue for AFL clubs ranged from $64 million to $20 million, with total club revenue climbing more than $570 million.
Geelong and St Kilda's grand final appearance resulted in a significant increase of merchandise sales, with the premiers recording a return of $1.4 million in this area.
Football department expenditure grew by seven per cent and clubs recorded a $39 million increase in net assets from the 2008 year. This was largely due to the $28 million redevelopment fund-raising and government support from the federal and state governments.
The AFL also released an examination of club football department spending since 1997 compared to on-field results.
On this measure, Geelong has been the most efficient club in the competition, with the best percentage of wins compared to spending.
The revenue gap and the subsequent spending on football departments between Victorian and non-Victorian clubs was much closer than in recent years.
