As the AFL today announced a record-breaking one million club members had signed up across the league, the GIANTS were celebrating a significant growth in their own member base. 

A total of 25,243 GIANTS members signed on by the July 31 membership tally cut-off – an increase of 4,299 members from 2017.

The GIANTS last week celebrated reaching the 25,000-member mark for the first time in the club’s seven-year history, and the 20.5 per cent increase was the third-highest percentage growth across the entire league.

Among the tally were 6,955 new members for the GIANTS.

It was the first time the league had passed one million members, with the GIANTS and 12 other teams breaking their all-time membership records.

The 1,008,494 club members across the AFL were an 11.1 per cent increase on last season and the 18th consecutive year of growth.

“One in every 24 Australians is now a member of an AFL club, a sign that the national reach of Australian football has never been greater,” AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan told afl.com.au.

“The commitment members make to their clubs is the key reason why our game continues to prosper.

“Our clubs give us a connection. Our games fill us with hope, despair and joy, and today it makes us proud.”

AFLW memberships also climbed in the second year of the competition, up more than 30 percent to 9,406.

Remarkably, nearly a quarter of that total (23 per cent) were GIANTS AFLW members.

The GIANTS, who are currently fifth on the AFL ladder, take on Carlton at Etihad Stadium at 1.10pm on Sunday.