Interstate Clubs Still Top the Ladder of Support, Brisbane Lions Most Popular AFL Club in 2004
http://www.roymorgan.com/news/press-releases/2005/381/
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Article No. 381 - April 07, 2005
The Brisbane Lions have overtaken the Sydney Swans to become the AFL’s most popular team, with an estimated 1,492,000 supporters in 2004 (up 161,000 since 2003), according to the Roy Morgan Sports Monitor. The Sydney Swans’ support base has decreased by a marginal 6,000 fans, making them the second most popular team, finishing 2004 with an estimated 1,335,000 supporters.
The Swans were well ahead of the most popular Victorian AFL team, the Essendon Bombers, in third place with 809,000 supporters. Making it to the Semi-Finals in 2004, Essendon have reversed the trend in relation to their shrinking supporter base with an increase of 13,000 fans from 2003.
For a fourth year running, Collingwood was placed behind Essendon as the second most popular Victorian AFL team, with 776,000 supporters in 2004 (up 27,000 since 2003). They have, however, experienced the highest rise in support since 2001 of all the Victorian teams, with an increase of 12.8% over the four year period.
Marginally behind Collingwood are two more interstate teams. Placed fifth, the West Coast Eagles had an estimated supporter base of 710,000 for 2004, down 36,000 from the same time in 2003. They are followed by the Adelaide Crows with 649,000. The Crows have also experienced a fall in support since 2003 (down 50,000).
Carlton finished as the third most popular Victorian team with 531,000 supporters, down 65,000 since 2003, continuing their slow decline in supporter numbers since December 2001, down 11.9%.
A sizeable gap exists between the top seven most popular teams and the rest of the competition.
2004 Premiers, Port Adelaide has increased their support levels by 10,000 supporters since 2003. Now with 325,000 supporters, Port’s fan base has been growing steadily over the past four years, increasing a total of 18.6% from 274,000 supporters in 2001.
Preliminary Finalists in 2004, St Kilda experienced the largest increase in support in 2004, with 334,000 supporters for 2004 (up 52,000 from 282,000 in 2003). This is a reversal of St Kilda’s steady decline in support from 321,000 in 2001 to 282,000 in 2003.
The Kangaroos have experienced a decline in support since 2001. Their support base is now at 214,000, down 35,000 from 249,000 in 2003, and down a substantial 20.1% from 268,000 in 2001.
The Melbourne Demons — placed last on the popularity ladder in 2003 with 205,000 supporters — are now 14 th in the popularity stakes, with 226,000 supporters in 2004 (up 21,000).
Taking over from the Melbourne Demons in 2004, the Western Bulldogs (201,000) are now the club with the least support amongst the AFL teams in 2004, with a notable decrease of 53,000 supporters from 254,000 in December 2003.
Overall, the number of AFL followers has grown by 10.2% from 2001 to 2004, driven largely by a 694,000 increase in supporters for the Brisbane Lions. Now, an estimated 8,595,000 Australians over the age of 14 supports an AFL team (up 27,000 from 8,568,000 in 2003).
For further information:
Gary Morgan: Office: (03) 9224 5213 Mobile : 0411 129 094 Home: (03) 9419 3242