New nationwide analysis reveals signs you might be an Adelaide Crows fan, Port Adelaide diehard

A nationwide analysis of AFL supporters has revealed some unique characteristics of footy fans.

There is just one team - The Adelaide Crows - for Cavoodle Lizzie and her family, the Sugars ... pictured are Zoe, 5, and Jack, 3, with mum Erin. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Forget the less than dream season start, there’s one ladder in which Adelaide Crows’ fans sit firmly on top according to a nationwide analysis of AFL supporters.

The sweeping snapshot by leading market research firm Roy Morgan reveals Crows devotees are the league’s undisputed “pet people”, showing more fans of the Adelaide club own dogs or cats than supporters of any other side.

The research which looks at a team’s supporter base beyond paid membership – compiled from surveys of 65,000 people aged 14 and older – has been shared exclusively with the Sunday Mail.

It also finds there is good reason for Power diehards of a certain gender to feel outnumbered in a sea of teal with Port Adelaide having among the highest portion of female fans – one of just four clubs with more supporters who are women than men.

Industry communications director Julian McCrann said Western Bulldogs lead the girl power charge with 52.4 per cent if its supporters female but Port Adelaide comes a close second at 52 per cent.

Fremantle (51.1 per cent) and Hawthorn (50.8 per cent) also have more female than male supporters with the Sydney Swans having the smallest proportion (37.5 per cent).

At the Adelaide Crows, 44.7 per cent of supporters are female.

Crows supporters, however, are the most likely to own dogs or cats with 59 per cent proud fur parents, the analysis shows.

It’s no surprise to Erin Sugars whose family – husband Ben, children Zoe, 5, Jack, 3, and baby Dean, 1, along with Cavoodle, Lizzie – are diehard Crows fans.

“It reflects how family-oriented the club is ... even our pets are part of the team and share in the passion and love for it,” the 38-year-old said.

The Crows is a family-oriented club says Erin Sugars, mum to Zoe, 5, Jack, 3, and Cavoodle, Lizzie. Keryn Stevens

The least likely to have a four-legged friend at home are Swans fans (38.1 per cent).

Turning to age, Port Adelaide is one of just three clubs with a majority of its supporters aged over 50 (51 per cent) – St Kilda (55 per cent), which holds the unenviable title of longest premiership drought, and Carlton (50 per cent) are the others.

But the oldest cohort of fans are at Melbourne, St Kilda and Essendon where at least a quarter of the supporter base is aged 65 or older.

Nationwide analysis of AFL supporters looks at the faces cheering on their sides. File picture Sarah Reed

In contrast, the clubs with the highest proportion of supporters aged under 50 are GWS Giants (69 per cent), the Gold Coast Suns (67 per cent) and the Western Bulldogs (60 per cent).

Almost a quarter of fans at the Suns, Geelong Cats and the Dogs are aged under 25.

When raw supporter numbers are crunched, Sydney Swans has the most with 1,344,000, up 18.4 per cent on a year earlier, followed by Collingwood (875,0000) and the Lions (826,000).

“(There is) strong correlation between on-field success and growing supporter numbers,” Mr McCrann said.

However, the Power reigns supreme at converting its supporters to members.

“The best club at converting their supporter base into actual paying members is Port Adelaide – (a) 21.3 per cent conversion rate is very high,” Mr McCrann said.

The Power has increased its fan base from 292,000 to 301,000 (or 3.1 per cent) while Crows are down 3.7 per cent, from 676,000 to 651,000.

Originally published as New nationwide analysis reveals signs you might be an Adelaide Crows fan, Port Adelaide diehard