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The AFL Member Responsiveness Experiment

Why AFL clubs' response times might explain their membership success

Member Experience

March 4, 2025

Steven Kryger

I sent a simple question to all 18 AFL clubs: "Do you have family memberships?"

The results revealed volumes about their commitment to member experience:

✅ 22% responded within 1 hour
✅ 72% responded within 1 day
✅ 100% responded within 2 days

Most impressive? Carlton Football Club and St Kilda Football Club didn't just email back - they picked up the phone and called me.

This isn't just good customer service - it's smart business. Each prompt response captures a potential member at their moment of interest.

It’s smart, but it’s strangely uncommon.

In my experience, this kind of consistent responsiveness is the exception, not the rule.

Maybe this is part of the reason 1 in 21 Australians are a member of an AFL club?

I sent a simple question to all 18 AFL clubs: "Do you have family memberships?"

The results revealed volumes about their commitment to member experience:

✅ 22% responded within 1 hour
✅ 72% responded within 1 day
✅ 100% responded within 2 days

Most impressive? Carlton Football Club and St Kilda Football Club didn't just email back - they picked up the phone and called me.

This isn't just good customer service - it's smart business. Each prompt response captures a potential member at their moment of interest.

It’s smart, but it’s strangely uncommon.

In my experience, this kind of consistent responsiveness is the exception, not the rule.

Maybe this is part of the reason 1 in 21 Australians are a member of an AFL club?

I sent a simple question to all 18 AFL clubs: "Do you have family memberships?"

The results revealed volumes about their commitment to member experience:

✅ 22% responded within 1 hour
✅ 72% responded within 1 day
✅ 100% responded within 2 days

Most impressive? Carlton Football Club and St Kilda Football Club didn't just email back - they picked up the phone and called me.

This isn't just good customer service - it's smart business. Each prompt response captures a potential member at their moment of interest.

It’s smart, but it’s strangely uncommon.

In my experience, this kind of consistent responsiveness is the exception, not the rule.

Maybe this is part of the reason 1 in 21 Australians are a member of an AFL club?

The Lab Report

Insights every Wednesday for growing membership 🚀

✔︎ 3-minute reads on proven member engagement tactics

✔︎ Exclusive findings from our ongoing research

✔︎ Ready-to-use templates and frameworks

The Lab Report

Insights every Wednesday for growing membership 🚀

✔︎ 3-minute reads on proven member engagement tactics

✔︎ Exclusive findings from our ongoing research

✔︎ Ready-to-use templates and frameworks

The Lab Report

Insights every Wednesday for growing membership 🚀

✔︎ 3-minute reads on proven member engagement tactics

✔︎ Exclusive findings from our ongoing research

✔︎ Ready-to-use templates and frameworks

Recruit and retain more members.

GET THE LAB REPORT

Insights every Wednesday for growing membership.

Recruit and retain more members.

GET THE LAB REPORT

Insights every Wednesday for growing membership.

Recruit and retain more members.

GET THE LAB REPORT

Insights every Wednesday for growing membership.