For his dollar he thus obtains about a guinea's worth - a splendid investment. Of course, everyone realises this puesdo membership affects the gate, but the raison d'etre is that, almost without exception, the clubs are "stony" at the beginning of each season, and this inrush of members of the "almighty dollar" is thankfully accepted to restore a healthy shape to the depleted money-bags."
Referee (Sydney) May 27 1908, p9
Total Members
| Year | Number | Cost | Other Information |
| 1864 | - | - | Club officially formed in July. There was a Carlton Football Club formed in May 1861. Perhaps it morphed into the Royal Park club as the cricket club did. |
| 1865 | 40 | - | Earliest recorded Carlton matches. However, there is anecdotal evidence of earlier games. |
| 1866 | - | - | Revision of playing rules. Carlton's Tom Power a leader in improving the rules. Jack Conway perhaps the Blues' most influential player begins his Carlton career. |
| 1867 | - | - | - |
| 1868 | - | - | Earliest known photo of any football team, Carlton Football Club. |
| 1869 | 50 (in excess of) | - | Carlton premiers, this claim is disputed with Melbourne. |
| 1870 | 50 (in excess of) | - | - |
| 1871 | 68 | - | Carlton premiers |
| 1872 | 93 | - | - |
| 1873 | - | - | Carlton premiers |
| 1874 | 200- | - | Carlton premiers |
| 1875 | 190 | 5/- shillings (50 cents) | Carlton premiers. 5/- approx $68 in 2019 |
| 1876 | - | - | - |
| 1877 | 215 | - | Carlton premiers. Largest membership in the VFA. Albert Park 130 Formation of the VFA |
| 1878 | 291 | - | Largest in the VFA. Melbourne 200. Era of the Kelly Gang see Tom Gorman |
| 1879 | 320 | - | Largest in the VFA. Melbourne 200 |
| 1880 | 300 | - | - |
| 1881 | - | - | - |
| 1882 | - | - | - |
| 1883 | - | - | - |
| 1884 | - | 5 shillings | - |
| 1885 | - | - | - |
| 1886 | 450 | - | - |
| 1887 | - | - | Carlton premiers |
| 1888 | 653 | - | Earliest known "action" photo of Australian Football. Image of Carlton playing in Tasmania. |
| 1889 | - | - | Melbourne's property prices begin to collapse. |
| 1890 | 1,186 | - | - |
| 1891 | - | - | Severe economic depression 1891 - 1894 |
| 1892 | - | - | - |
| 1893 | 967 | - | - |
| 1894 | 604 | - | - |
| 1895 | - | - | - |
| 1896 | 298 | 5/- shillings (50 cents) | - |
| 1897 | - | - | - |
| 1898 | - | - | - |
| 1899 | - | - | - |
| 1900 | 473 | - | - |
| 1901 | - | - | Federation January 01 |
| 1902 | - | - | Women receive the right to vote in Federal elections |
| 1903 | 473 | - | - |
| 1904 | 1,530 | - | - |
| 1905 | 1,870 | - | - |
| 1906 | 2,074 | - | - |
| 1907 | 2,811 | - | - |
| 1908 | 4,247 | - | - |
| 1909 | 4,679 | - | Largest in the VFL. South Melbourne 3,767 |
| 1910 | 3780 | - | - |
| 1911 | - | - | - |
| 1912 | 5,000 | - | - |
| 1913 | 5,098 | - | - |
| 1914 | 4,977 | - | Revenue: £2,600 Largest membership in the League by 500 Total m/ship 28,363 |
| 1915 | 3,735 | - | Ticket sales £933 World War 1 |
| 1916 | - | - | VFL Membership Total 3,469# Revenue: £864 Due to WW1 Fours teams only contest the VFL season |
| 1917 | 850 | - | Carlton largest membership in VFL by 200. WW1 |
| 1918 | - | 5/- shillings (50 cents) | WW1 ends Nov 11. "Spanish" 'Flu (H1N1) pandemic sweeps Europe |
| 1919 | - | 5/6 (55 cents) | Spanish 'Flu arrives in Aust.early Jan.15,000 deaths in Australia and more than 30 million world wide. Football continues. Pandemic ends mid year. |
| 1920 | 5,624 | 5/6 (55 cents) | - |
| 1921 | 7,156 | 5/- (50 cents) | - |
| 1922 | 5,623 | 7/6 (75 cents) | - |
| 1923 | 6,030 | 7/6 (75 cents) | |
| 1924 | 6,598 | 7/6 (75 cents) | |
| 1925 | 4,578 | 7/6 (75 cents) | 4th largest in the VFL. Geelong 6,405 |
| 1926 | 5,482 | 7/6 (75 cents) | 3rd largest in the VFL. Geelong 8,114 |
| 1927 | 7,200 | 7/6 (75 cents) | New club record Largest in the VFL. Gate receipts £2335 Membership tickets £2750 |
| 1928 | 7,400 | 7/6 (75 cents) | New club record. Largest in the VFL. |
| 1929 | 6,470 | - | Largest in the VFL.Great Depression. Aust. economy suffers badly during the 1930's |
| 1930 | 5,844 | 8/- (80 cents) | Largest in the VFL. |
| 1931 | 4,100 | 8/- (80 cents) | - |
| 1932 | 5,382 | 8/- (80 cents) 18 matches & 6 prac. matches | Largest m/ship in VFL Australia's unemployment rate 32% |
| 1933 | 6,114 | 8/4 (85 cents) | 8/4 equals approx $42.00 in 2020. Largest membership in the VFL |
| 1934 | 5,957 | - | - |
| 1935 | 5,996 | 8/4 (85 cents) child 5/- (50 cents) | G. Hooper 50 years a member & E. A. Powell for 57 years |
| 1936 | 6,285 | - | - |
| 1937 | 6,142 | - | - |
| 1938 | 6,143 | 8/4 (85 cents) | - |
| 1939 | 7,753 | - | New club record. Largest in the VFL. WW2 begins Sept. 03 |
| 1940 | 5,937 | - | Australia's unemployment 11% World War 2 |
| 1941 | 5,834 | - | Second largest. Players paid £3 per match. WW2 |
| 1942 | 1,971 | 8/6 | WW2 Darwin (N.T.) bombed Feb 19, first of 64 raids. |
| 1943 | 3,705 | 8/6 (85 cents) | WW2 Collingwood 2,122 |
| 1944 | 4,747 | 8/6 | WW2 Largest in the VFL. Collingwood 2,913 |
| 1945 | 9,617 | 10/6 ($1.05) child 5/- (50 cents) | WW2 ends August 15 |
| 1946 | 10,365 | 10/6 ($1.05) child 5/- (50 cents) | VFL record New club record. 10,365. 8,822 adults 1,543 students. VFA total Membership 15,170 |
| 1947 | 11,213 | 10/6 | New club record. VFL record "Carlton Football Club's huge membership, envy of all other League clubs is expected to be even larger this season." (Herald April 24 p24) |
| 1948 | 9,821 | 13/6 | "Carlton who have the biggest football club membership in Australia." Alf Brown Herald July 07. |
| 1949 | 9,947 | 13/6 ($1.35) child 5/- (50 cents) | - |
| 1950 | 10,052 | 13/6 ($1.35) | - |
| 1951 | 8,606 | 18/6 ($1.85) | - |
| 1952 | 9,491 | 22/6 ($2.25) | - |
| 1953 | 9,371 | 22/6 ($2.25) child 7/6 (75 cents) | Mr. Arthur E. Page (88 in June) received his 71st consecutive members ticket Some years before, he had presented Carlton with a set of members tickets dating back to 1874. (Herald March 04 p26) KIngs Cross London UK. An almost empty stolen purse was found in a rubbish bin, all it contained was a Carlton Football Club membership ticket No.5159. (Herald Dec 14 p9)
A few weeks later the owner Elsie Mason of Elsternwick who has been a member for 50 years was reunited with her ticket. (Herald Jan 05 p14) |
| 1954 | 8,659 | 25/- ($2.50) child 7/6 (75 cents) | - |
| 1955 | 9,872 | - | - |
| 1956 | 8,259 | 30/- ($3.00) child 10/- ($1.00) | - |
| 1957 | 9,474 | - | - |
| 1958 | 8,718 | - | - |
| 1959 | 9,420 | 35/- ($3.50) child 10/- ($1.00) | - |
| 1960 | 8,743 | - | - |
| 1961 | 8,989 | - | - |
| 1962 | 8,866 | 40/- ($4.00) child 10/- ($1.00) | - |
| 1963 | 10,582 | 45/- ($4.50) child 10/- ($1.00) | - |
| 1964 | 10,183 | 45/- ($4.50) child 10/- ($1.00) | - |
| 1965 | 8,191 | 60/- ($6.00) child 10/- ($1.00) | - |
| 1966 | 7,041 | $6.00 child $1.00 | - |
| 1967 | 7,626 | $6.00 child $1.00 | Last year of entry of membership tickets to both home and away games. $6.00 is approx equal to $72.00 in 2020 |
| 1968 | 5,724 | $5.00 child $1.00 | Lowest total since 1944 Entry to home matches only |
| 1969 | 9,668 | $5.00 child $1.50 | - |
| 1970 | 8,678 | - | - |
| 1971 | 10,019 | - | - |
| 1972 | 10,065 | $6.00 child $1.50 | |
| 1973 | 12,477 | - | New club record |
| 1974 | 11,618 | $9.00 child $1.50 | - |
| 1975 | 11,712 | $10.00 child $1.50 | - |
| 1976 | 9,548 | $15.00 pensioner/student $5.00 child $1.50 | - |
| 1977 | 10,145 | $15.00 pensioner/student $5.00 child $1.50 | - |
| 1978 | 10,003 | $16.00 student $10.00 pensioner $5.00 child $2.00 | - |
| 1979 | 12,131 | $17.50 student $10.00 pensioner $5.00 child $2.00 | - |
| 1980 | 12,029 | $20.00 student $12.00 pensioner $5.00 child $2.50 | - |
| 1981 | 12,614 | $25.00 student $15.00 pensioner $4.00 child $3.00 | New club record |
| 1982 | 13,458 | $30.00 student $17.00 pensioner $5.00 child $4.00 | New club record |
| 1983 | 13,071 | $40.00 student $22.00 pensioner $7.00 child $5.00 | - |
| 1984 | 12,723 | $40.00 student $22.00 pensioner $7.00 child $5.00 | - |
| 1985 | 13,571 | $40.00 student $22.00 pensioner $7.00 child $5.00 | - |
| 1986 | 15,279 | $40.00 student $22.00 pensioner $7.00 child $5.00 | New club record |
| 1987 | 11,118 | $48.00 concession $ 22.00 | - |
| 1988 | 10,877 | $50.00 | - |
| 1989 | 10,343 | $54.00 | - |
| 1990 | 10,457 | $58.00 | - |
| 1991 | 12,736 | - | - |
| 1992 | 12,354 | - | - |
| 1993 | 14,856 | - | - |
| 1994 | 15,113 | - | - |
| 1995 | 18,581 | - | New club record |
| 1996 | 23,278 | - | New club record |
| 1997 | 24,984 | - | New club record |
| 1998 | 25,402 | - | New club record |
| 1999 | 25,719 | - | New club record |
| 2000 | 27,571 | - | New club record |
| 2001 | 27,725 | - | New club record |
| 2002 | 26,503 | - | - |
| 2003 | 33,253 | - | New club record |
| 2004 | 32,445 | - | - |
| 2005 | 33,534 | - | New club record |
| 2006 | 28,756 | - | - |
| 2007 | 35,341 | - | New club record |
| 2008 | 39,360 | - | New club record |
| 2009 | 43,294 | - | New club record |
| 2010 | 40,296 | - | - |
| 2011 | 43,771 | - | New club record |
| 2012 | 45,800 | - | New club record |
| 2013 | 50,561 | - | New club record |
| 2014 | 47,485 | - | - |
| 2015 | 47,305 | - | - |
| 2016 | 50,202 | - | - |
| 2017 | 50,557 | - | - |
| 2018 | 56,005 | - | New club record |
| 2019 | 64,269 | $215 home games (general admission*) | New club record. Covid-19 detected in China late in the year. |
| 2020 | 67,035 | - | New club record. COVID-19 pandemic halts all matches after Rnd 1 until June 13. No crowds. After Rnd 5 all Carlton games played in QLD, SA & WA with limited crowds. Fifth on AFL membership tally. |
| 2021 | - | - | - |
| 2022 | - | - | - |
.* Various packages available.
.*** total not finalised.
- Referee August 18 1917 (p1)
Trove; Age April 24 1931 (p13)
Despite winning the flag in 1927,1928, 1929 & 1930 Collingwood's membership languished behind many clubs.
The Blues topped the membership ladder in those years
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1864: not available
1865:40
1866:
1867:
1868:
1869: 50 (in excess of)
1870: 50 (in excess of)
1871: 68
1872: 93
1873:
1874:
1875: 200; membership cost 5/- (5 shillings = 50 cents)
1876: 190
1877: 215
1878: 291
1879: 320
1880: 300
1881:
1882:
1883:
1884:
1885:
1886: 450
1887:
1888: 653
1889:
1890: 1,186
1891:
1892:
1893: 967
1894: 604
1895:
1896:
1897:
1898:
1899:
1900:
1904: 1,870
1905: 2,074
1907: 2,811
1908: 3,523
"But the term member is somewhat of a misnomer. There is no form of election, but the member elect planks down five shillings for a piece of cardboard, which franks him into the reserve on the local ground, and into the popular portion of the opposing ground.
For his dollar he thus obtains about a guinea's worth - a splendid investment. Of course, everyone realises this puesdo membership affects the gate, but the raison d'etre is that, almost without exception, the clubs are "stony" at the beginning of each season, and this inrush of members of the "almighty dollar" is thankfully accepted to restore a healthy shape to the depleted money-bags."
(Referee May 27 1908, p9)
1909: 4,000
1910: 3,853
1913: 4,660
1914: 4,977 Revenue: £2,600 Carlton had the League's largest membership by more than 500.
1915: 5,000
1916: **** Revenue: £864
1917: 850 Carlton had the League's largest membership by more than 200.
1918: cost 5/-
1919: cost 5/6 (55 cents)
1920: 5,624 cost 5/6
1921: 7,156 cost 5/-
1922: 5,623 cost 7/6
1923: 6,030 cost 7/6
1924: 6,598 - see season
1924 for a list of all League club's memberships.
1925:
1926: In April said they will easily have more than last year. Gate receipts £2460 VFL record.
1927: 7,200 cost 7/6 (club record) Gate receipts £2335 Membership tickets £2750
1928: 7,400 (club record). Gate receipts £2436 (Most membership in the VFL)
1930: 5,844 cost 8/-
1931: 4,100
1932: 5,382
1933: 6,114 cost 8/4 (Most membership in the VFL)
1934: 5,957
junior tickets introduced during the 1935 season
1935: 5,996 cost 8/4 Adults (children 5/-)
1936: 6,285
1937: 6,142
1938: 6,143 Cost 8/4 (84c)
1939: 7,752 club and V.F.L. record.
1940: 5,937
1941: 5,834 £2187 cost 8/6 Adults (children 5/-) Essendon topped the list with 6,415 Carlton second. (another report said 4,553) Players were paid £3 per match.
1942: 1,971
1943: 3,705 8/6 (85 cents)
1944: 4,747 Gate Receipts: exceeded £2,500
1945: 9,617 cost 10/6 Adults (children 5/-) Players paid £7/12/6 per match (League record) £3 per match, £2 into Provident Fund, & share of £500 supporter donation.
1946: 10,365 (record) 8,822 adults & 1,543 students
1947: 11,213
1948: 9,821
1949: 9,947 cost 13/6 Adults (children 5/-)
1950: 10,052
1951: 8,806 cost 18/6
1952: 9,491
1953: 9,371 cost 22/6 Adults (children 7/6)
1954: 8,659 cost Adults 25/- (children 7/6)
1955: 9,872
1956: 8,259 cost 30/- Adults (children 10/-)
1957: 9,474
1958: 8,718
1959: 9,420 cost 35/- Adults (children 10/-)
1960: 8,743
1961: 8,989
1962: 8,866 cost 40/- Adults (children 10/-)
1963: 10,582 cost 45/- (children 10/-)
1964: 10,183
1965: 8,191 cost 60/- (£3) Adults (children 10/-)
1966: 7,041 cost $6-Adults (children $1)
1967: 7,626
1967 was the last season that membership tickets admitted to both home and away matches
1968: 5,724 cost $5 Adults (children $1)
1969: 9,668 cost $5 Adults (children $1.50)
1970: 8,678
1971: 10,019
1972: 10,065 cost $6 Adults (children $1.50)
1973: 12,477
1974: 11,618 cost $9 Adults (children $1.50)
1975: 11,712 cost $10 Adults (children $1.50)
1976: 9,548 cost $15 Adults (children $1.50)
In 1976 a new type of membership was introducted pensioners/students $5
1977: 10,145
1978: 10,003 cost $16 Adults
1979: 12,131 cost $17.50 Adults
1980: 12,029 cost $20 Adults
1981: 12,614 cost $25 Adults
1982: 13,458 cost $30 Adults
1983: 13,071 cost $40 Adults
1984: 12,723
1985: 13,571
1986: 15,279 (New Club Record)
1987: 11,118 cost $48 Adults
1988: 10,877 cost $50 Adults
1989: 10,343 cost $54 Adults
1990: 10,457 cost $58 Adults
1991: 12,736
1992: 12,354
1993: 14,856
1994: 15,113
1995: 18,581 (New Club Record)
1996: 23,278 (New Club Record)
1997: 24,984 (New Club Record)
1998: 25,402 (New Club Record)
1999: 25,719 (New Club Record)
2000: 27,571 (New Club Record)
2001: 27,725 (New Club Record)
2002: 26,503
2003: 33,252 (New Club Record)
2004: 32,445
2005: 33,534 (New Club Record)
2006: 28,756
2007: 35,431 (New Club Record)
2008: 39,360 (New Club Record)
2009: 43,294 (New Club Record)
2010: 40,296
2011: 43,771 (New Club Record)
2012: 45,800 (New Club Record)
2013: 50,561 (New Club Record)
2014: 47,485
2015: 47,305
2016: 50,202
2017: 50,557
Over the years, increasingly Carlton began to create
membership campaigns in support of each annual membership drive.
Links
Supporters |
Membership Campaigns