The new AFL CEO in waiting Andrew Dillon was asked about whether he thought a 20th AFL licence was now inevitable once Tasmania was admitted to the competition. His response was that the AFL had, in the past, fielded an odd number of teams so he wouldn’t be drawn into a definitive position on AFL Team 20.

I personally believe that the 20th Team will happen simply because of the additional revenue that a 10th game in every round will bring.

But from where will AFL Team 20 come?

The Northern Territory, Canberra, perhaps another team from Perth or Adelaide or one of the regional centres of WA or SA?

I don't see how another game makes more profit. It probably costs $40-50m for an AFL side. 10 games means more overlapping games and splits the audience.

Surely we would be better to see if North, St Kilda, GCS and GWS can survive before expanding further.

Edited May 1, 20231 yr by Fat Tony

GWS should have always been located in Canberra.

Put a second team in Geelong, I say…

I don't understand the logic of having Gold Coast Suns.  How viable are they really????

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

GWS should have always been located in Canberra.

Conversely, should there be a 20th team, I'd place it in Canberra. Assuming GWS still exists, that would make the Giants focus on its supposed base of western Sydney rather than being split between western Sydney and Canberra. That schizophrenic existence means GWS doesn't serve either market properly. If I lived in western Sydney, why would I support a team that's not committed to my territory but trying to have it both ways?  

I'm not convinced there will necessarily be a 20th team, at least, not in the next decade. I think its more likely that a Melbourne-based team will fail first. I don't want it to happen, but maintaining 9 teams in Melbourne is more financially problematic than adding a new team. And, of course, there's always a risk that GWS or Gold Coast will cease to exist.

1 hour ago, buck_nekkid said:

Put a second team in Geelong, I say

No Thanks, I have to listen enough from the existing clubs arrogant supporters.

Mentioned Geraldton as an option. They have stadium so ready to go on that front 

the Northern Crocodiles... (NT + Islands)

Edited May 2, 20231 yr by red and blue forever

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

GWS should have always been located in Canberra.

yes and no - they needed the greater population base of (greater) western sydney which dwarfs that of act

joondalup is the logical third location in wa, i would've thought?

Will it really bring in revenue though? Seems there is a few clubs (franchises) that are already money pits, as we were not long ago also.

1 minute ago, SFebes said:

Will it really bring in revenue though? Seems there is a few clubs (franchises) that are already money pits, as we were not long ago also.

i'd argue a 20th team will bring in revenue; a 19th team will not

there's no extra games, so no extra broadcast revenue

5 minutes ago, red and blue forever said:

the Northern Crocodiles... (NT + Islands)

I don't see how a team can be placed in the NT. Firstly, Darwin's weather makes football difficult (and there is no other town big enough). Secondly, there isn't a population base to support the game, even in Darwin. And thirdly, it will be almost impossible for a Darwin-based club to retain players. 

I don't think a team in Darwin is viable as even in the dry season is fricken hot, plus they're population is only 150k with not a lot of population dense areas surrounding it. I'd love to see one there but can't see it happening.

I think SA is a better option as they are a huge AFL state with no NRL team, could be quite successful. But going by the previous 2 teams, AFL want to take away from NRL rich areas.

Just now, whatwhat say what said:

i'd argue a 20th team will bring in revenue; a 19th team will not

there's no extra games, so no extra broadcast revenue

I personally believe that there should be less teams not more (talent pool issues). I'd remove GC, GWS and relocate North to Tassie, making a 16 team comp. I'm not sure that a standalone tassie team will be a huge success either just yet

2 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I don't see how a team can be placed in the NT. Firstly, Darwin's weather makes football difficult (and there is no other town big enough). Secondly, there isn't a population base to support the game, even in Darwin. And thirdly, it will be almost impossible for a Darwin-based club to retain players. 

Almost exactly what I wrote lol

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

GWS should have always been located in Canberra.

I have a slightly different take on this; GWS needs Canberra for a few decades to establish itself (yes, it may never happen) in WS. They have done a really good job with ingratiating themselves to the Canberra region.

Canberra cannot survive a Raiders, Brumbies, and an AFL team. We would get 18k every second week, that’s not the problem, the problem is corporate support. I am told it’s exhausted already. 

No way Geraldton would get or hold onto an AFL team. The Suns should have been the Tasmania team instead, founded 14 years ago they haven't gained any traction and lose talent despite being in a desirable location.

Bring back the Roy Boys!

32 minutes ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

I don't understand the logic of having Gold Coast Suns.  How viable are they really????

Having seen how successful Southport have been in the VFL comp I think the AFL missed a trick in leveraging their established setup in Queensland

Albury.

I wonder what the financial impact will be on North with no more Tassie funding? While they've been long out of pokies, and have a better deal at Marvel now the AFL owns this, they would be the most vulnerable in my eyes with a major income provider now dropping out. So will the leagues wait to see what happens there, in particular if they continue with poor results over the next 2 - 3 years before Tassie joins. Maybe it'll be back to 18, rather than a 20th coming in?

As an aside and all self pecuniary,  growing up I used to dread the gradual expansion of the number of AFL teams over the years. Statistically it just made it harder and harder for us to win the big one. Had to wait over half a century but I was wrong😉

I read that Eddie McGuire was saying he thinks the Giants should play 11 games in Canberra and 11 games in Western Sydney. Wtf has he been smoking?

 

21 minutes ago, Red and Blue realist said:

I wonder what the financial impact will be on North with no more Tassie funding?

Merge them with Hawthorn who will also lose that funding.  They have sold their pokie venues and if they wallow at the bottom of the ladder for a few years they will lose members and have an expensive white elephant at Dingley. 🤞🤞🤞

Or merge them with their WBD neighbours!!

Edited May 2, 20231 yr by Lucifers Hero