The article should have focused more on what the MFC means to the AFL at present, including what the AFL's role in the club's long term should be. Instead he just adds a single quote from AD saying what he is expected to say, then rehashes old news.
I would prefer to read about what the AFL might be thinking behind doors, you'll never get a decent quote from anyone about it but you could at least frame the argument.
On that note, it will be interesting to see how the AFL treats us in the next few years, in terms of cash handouts, equalisation and priority picks. Especially given their recent commitment to the new clubs. To now I think the AFL has bad a foot in both camps, they're not prepared to force clubs out, but they're not really committed to effective assistance either.
My fear is they will only offer token assistance on those fronts, and we will continue to struggle. I don't think we are at risk of being folded in the short term, it will be a decade before they consider any change to the league lineup, but when that time comes, if we are travelling the same path as we are currently on, I can't see any other way but merge/move or fold.