The Sydney Swans remain the most widely supported AFL football club in the land.

According to Roy Morgan Research, an Australian leader in market research, support for the Sydney Swans topped 1,204,000 in 2017.

The impressive tally nearly doubles that of traditional Victorian powerhouse Essendon, which sits second on the ladder with 671,000 supporters.

West Coast ranks third with 669,000 while Collingwood rounds out the top four with 663,000 supporters nation-wide.

The poll, based on the preferences of Australians aged 14 years and over, found the Sydney Swans enjoyed a 9.5 per cent increase in support between the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

More than 100,000 new supporters took a liking to the red and white on the back of last year’s Grand Final appearance.

Sydney Swans Chief Executive and Managing Director Andrew Ireland thanked Swans fans for getting behind the team.

“We’re grateful to have such passionate and loyal supporters at the Sydney Swans,” he said.

“Whether we’re playing at home in front of a packed SCG, or on the road anywhere around the country, we can always count on plenty of red and white support in the stands.

“In season 2017 we achieved record membership of 58,838, a record number of attendees across our home-and-away games, and the biggest crowd ever at the SCG with 46,323 people turning out for our elimination final against Essendon.

“We look forward to welcoming even more members to our Sydney Swans family next season.”

It is the 13th consecutive year Roy Morgan’s statistics have ranked the Sydney Swans top of the table for total supporters.