Reigning premiers Hawthorn have become the first Victorian AFL club to sign up more than 30,000 members before Christmas.

The Hawks already have 30,087 members paid up for the 2009 season, an increase of 57 per cent from the same time last year.

With 22 per cent of them new members, the club is confident of breaking last year's record membership of 41,686.

"The team has shown over the last few seasons that there are exciting times ahead for the club and it is encouraging that so many supporters have backed the club as financial members," said Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett.

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