I don't think success will be measured on the actually performance/profitability of the new Clubs, I think it will be if AFL is the clear number one sport in the country, measured by total revenue, in the coming decades, the AFL will consider it a success. If GWS are losing $10 million per year, but are helping to get $1 billion dollars for the TV rights, I'd say they will be considered a success by those in charge.

From the AFLs perspective you are right. And it leaves enough slack to employ a lot of spin. No doubt an AFL CEO performance payrise in the future.

To me however its more a question of religion. I'm more interested in converts (players, fans, media).

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-to-unveil-gws-giants/story-e6frf9jf-1225954361689

Word is its GWS Giants. Hate them already. What an awful American-franchise-artificial-basketball sounding nick name. Jumper looks crap too. About as good an effort as this:

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bomberblitz.com/~rmered/images/Brisbane-1.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php%3Ft%3D673164&usg=__jCzI7_JvF_SaAA3TyNMd-INjlmU=&h=406&w=559&sz=12&hl=en&start=0&sig2=h8gudn28QpJ3x5BCKizwow&zoom=1&tbnid=huiYwRF3WYBX3M:&tbnh=134&tbnw=179&ei=Q__hTPzMCYuavAPC4qjmDw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrisbane%2Bbears%2Bguernsey%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D552%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=134&vpy=87&dur=780&hovh=163&hovw=224&tx=87&ty=101&oei=Q__hTPzMCYuavAPC4qjmDw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Hate them already.

GO DEES!

If ever a code needed a cultural and heretige commission it is our very own ' australian ' rules football. We are in danger of not being identifiable from other sports especially of the yankee variety. There are people on this thread who wont be happy until we become a US state.