Caroline Wilson reports in the Age that the AFL "will become an 18-team competition within four years, with plans to establish a Gold Coast team by 2011 and a team in western Sydney by 2012" - AFL plans 2 new clubs in 4 years

IMO that's bulldust.

For starters, where are they going to get the players from of sufficient standard to start 2 news teams from scratch?

Unfortunately with this administration, I don't think it IS bulldust...

I think its ridiculous to expect the competition to be able to support two more teams when we already have so many struggling.

IMO it would be more beneficial to the AFL to have 1 in Tassie and 1 in Darwin. The chances of failing are very minimal.

IMO it would be more beneficial to the AFL to have 1 in Tassie and 1 in Darwin. The chances of failing are very minimal.

Gold Coast and Sydney are bigger economic and demographic markets.

i have always wondered why the hell there isnt a team in Tasmania where there is a lot of love for the game, they have a nice cosy stadium and so many great players in the AFL are from there.

i have always wondered why the hell there isnt a team in Tasmania where there is a lot of love for the game, they have a nice cosy stadium and so many great players in the AFL are from there.

Geelong ( approx 250,000 ) can support a team - you would think Tassie (500,000 ) could - Canberra is another one that would be a starter , one would think.

IMO, Darwin is too small.

Canberra? not for me... They tried it with a truly national sport like cricket, and it failed miserably... I can't see a football team workng there... and even if it did, I can't see the McGuire's of the league allowing it to become financilly strong...

i have always wondered why the hell there isnt a team in Tasmania where there is a lot of love for the game, they have a nice cosy stadium and so many great players in the AFL are from there.

Economics and the siren does not work!

Caroline Wilson reports in the Age that the AFL "will become an 18-team competition within four years, with plans to establish a Gold Coast team by 2011 and a team in western Sydney by 2012" - AFL plans 2 new clubs in 4 years

IMO that's bulldust.

For starters, where are they going to get the players from of sufficient standard to start 2 news teams from scratch?

Its very possible. As for the players, a rumior went about that if new teams arrived, the existing clubs could name 2 players who were untouchables. After these players had been named, the new clubs are officially allowd to poach these players who were unnamed. It seems incredibly unfair but i do remember reading a newspaper artical about it a few years ago. But its probobly unlikely

Its very possible. As for the players, a rumior went about that if new teams arrived, the existing clubs could name 2 players who were untouchables. After these players had been named, the new clubs are officially allowd to poach these players who were unnamed. It seems incredibly unfair but i do remember reading a newspaper artical about it a few years ago. But its probobly unlikely

2 more teams would definitely bot be good for clubs such as MFC as would reduce share of AFL revenues and add more competition for the sponsors etc. From what was in Mike Fitzpatrick's comments It loooks lile plan is to play more games each week so the TV rights would pay for the cost of extra teams. Is why would need to more to 18 and not 17 as odd number wud mean a bye for 1 side and still 8 game each week.

No doubt AFL will look at a final 9!!! imagine the system they would need tro devise for that!!

GC and West Sydney are stategic ideals for the AFL. Is as much about future positioning as it is about relevance today.

Those wanting teams in other locales...well.. the Melbourne scene is far from over of a rationalisation.

I reckon Tassie would work fine, but there isn't the growth potential so it's not as sexy to the AFL.

West Sydney will be a massive failure. Gold Coast may work for a bit before falling over, like it has for every other sport that's tried it until now.

don't think so Hards, the GC club likely to come in already has 42,000 members.

Darwin would be a more logical choice because it would only need a crowd of 5,000-10,000 people to post a profit. They'd get between 10k-20k each game.

West Sydney I think is a stupid move. I don't think Sydney is AFL hungry enough to sport a second team.

The GC is feasible as it's a booming city and with the support of the sharks, could become a powerhouse of Adelaide-esque proportions.