PORT ADELAIDE has always had some of the most loyal supporters in Australia, and now the statistics back it up.

After setting a new club membership record and passing 60,000 members for a fourth consecutive year, it’s been revealed that the club is ranked second in the AFL, behind only premiers Richmond, for member retention year-on-year.

In fact, 93% of all eleven-game reserve seat members from 2017 have continued their membership this year.

The club’s current tally of 60,822 members surpasses the 60,450 in 2015.

Importantly, free electronic members are not included in this tally, with only paid-up members counted to preserve the integrity of the membership count.

Port Adelaide Executive General Manager Matthew Richardson, said the result showed the club’s member-first approach was paying dividends.

“Our loyal members hold us to high standards, and we have to meet those standards,” he said.

“We place a higher value to being a member of your club and conversion from fans or supporters into members is important to us.

“Building a personal connection with our members, where they feel genuinely part of the club in whichever way they connect with us is critical.

“It could be at game day, through our regular communications and digital content or just through how we engage and talk to our members but it’s all important.

“They are our most important stakeholders and we have to live that in all we do as a club.”

The pleasing news continues with Port Adelaide recording an average attendance at Adelaide Oval of 42,757, up from 38,136 in 2017, despite some challenging time slots in the fixtures so far.

The club ranks a remarkable first in the competition for General Admission member “show” rates at home games and fourth for its overall member attendance.

It was only at Port Adelaide’s last home game in Round 8 against Adelaide that coach Ken Hinkley lauded the Power supporters for their help in willing his side to a thrilling victory.

“How good were the Power fans tonight? For us to have a home Showdown and the noise that they made tonight, I just thought ‘wow’,” Hinkley said.

“I think they got us over the line tonight, I think that shouldn’t be underestimated how good it was to have a home Showdown and win big for them.

“I hope they go home tonight feeling really proud of their footy team.”

Memberships are still available at weareportadelaide.com.au from as little as $25 for a junior membership.

Three-game General Admission memberships are available for just $100 and under a new Super June promotion three-game reserve seat membership will cost only $120.

That will entitle members to attend the blockbuster Round 11 Friday night clash against Richmond, the Thursday night Round 12 game against the Western Bulldogs and the Round 13 Friday night game against Melbourne.

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