I saw a theory awhile ago that made sense to me about how and why the big clubs got big and it was due to the emerging TV coverage of the late 60s and 70's.
It was this time when Carlton, Collingwood and Richmond were all top sides and so dominating the footy show replays.
Teams on the bottom of the ladder during this time barely got a look in.
Every year for eg I'd watch the Grand Final eve replays and we were never in them.
Same with saturday nights when they'd review the days games and then show the last qtr or so of the game of the round.
We very rarely got a look in there either.
Essendon and Hawthorns era of dominance during the 80's helped their cause.
Meanwhile we for the most part were stinking up the bottom of the ladder for multiple decades.
Can't explain Norf but I do feel for them pioneering Friday night footy only then for the other clubs to muscle in on their lucrative action.