ANOTHER challenging season hasn't stopped Essendon supporters from pledging their support to the club, with the Bombers setting a new membership record in 2015.

The club surpassed its previous record membership tally (60,714 in 2014) on Thursday last week, just one day before the July 31 cut-off date.

The Bombers have ended the official membership period for this season with 60,819 members, an excellent result despite a third season overshadowed by the supplements saga.

"Under the circumstances we've faced, to have grown the membership, although only marginally, is still an amazing effort by everyone at the club and shows the support of our fans which we're really proud of," Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell told AFL.com.au.

It is the second time the club has exceeded 60,000 members, and has continued the steady increase of the Bombers’ supporter base in recent seasons.

Campbell acknowledged the fans' support during the club's difficult period, which remains ongoing with a date yet to be confirmed for the World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal of the verdict in favour of the 34 past and present Essendon players.

He said the membership record was a sign the fans understood what the players had been through in the past three seasons.

"I think it shows [the supporters] love their club and they love their players. They know it's been an incredibly difficult period for the players, mostly," Campbell said.

"The players have shown nothing but respect for this process, they haven't spoken out about any frustrations in the process, and they've respected the process at every stage.

"Our fans respect them for that and admire them for that, and are united for their support in the players."

The club will set its sights on another membership increase next year, and hopes a new partnership with the Melbourne Cricket Club will see some more Essendon fans sign on.

The Bombers are the second-most supported AFL team by MCC members, and are offering access to Etihad Stadium home games under a new option available with MCC membership packages.

Their on-field fortunes have been grim this season – falling from a finalist in 2014 to a likely bottom-five finish – but the club has reached out to its members and past players, and Campbell said it will continue to make that a focus.

"We need to keep working as a football club to make our fans proud. We know that as much I think we've done some good things, there's still so much work for us to do," he said.

"We know our brand and our engagement with our fans and other key stakeholders like our past players needs to be our priority, and that's what it will be."