2020 will be 30 years since the beginning of the AFL era and it’s still not a fully national competition. Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Canberra still do not have their own teams.
Of course there are varying factors that are preventing this.
However, if the AFL can start two new teams like GWS and Gold Coast surely there is a strong enough argument and population for Tasmanian, Northern Territory and Canberra teams.
The AFL is the biggest sport in the nation by quite a margin. The women’s competition has even reached out to the NT. So, in my opinion, it’s a matter of ‘where there is a will there is a way.’
I am an avid West Coast Eagles fan but I would be so excited to see teams from Tasmania, the NT and Canberra to make the number of teams to 20.
Of course, this would mean one existing team relocating – there are still too many Victorian teams that I don’t think can be supported financially. So, one more team must relocate, much as happend with South Melbourne and Fitzroy.
Tasmania should have its own team of course, and I don’t see why the Northern Territory Thunder cannot make a case for coming into the national competition.
Canberra is not too far away from Melbourne to facilitate a successful relocation of a Melbourne team that the supporters can still follow. No one wants to move, but I think that the St Kilda Saints and North Melbourne Kangaroos would be the prime candidates.
Many will disagree of course and cite the various barriers between the dream of a truly national competition and reality.
But, becoming the first truly national sport in the country would be a great achievement and would certainly help the AFL in all sorts of ways especially financially and culturally.
Roll on Tassie Devils, NT Thunder and Canberra Saints or Roos.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I think Supercars had races in every state and territory for a few years?
Gerry
Roar Rookie
As per Alistair Clarkson’s recent revelations. My proposals are pretty much what he is advocating. Very pleased about that. North relocating to Canberra would indeed invigorate them and push them up the ladder. The Swans and Brisbane have proved that relocating a team is indeed successful provided they are given time to establish themselves.
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Wow what a year 2020 has been. The NEAFL disbanded and the AFL having to cut many jobs. Covid of course has dealt a mighty blow to everything and everyone. Just my opinion but I think the GWS and Gold Coast experiment has pretty much had its day. Relocate both clubs to Canberra and Darwin to regenerate and reinvigorate them. It will work I am sure. In any case can’t be much worse than they are now. Yes GWS did make the big dance last year but of course blown away. I seem to remember another young fledgling team which did not require so much help from the AFL being smashed in their first GF but then as you know the rest is history. They finished as minor premiers that year not the case for GWS of course. Anyway my point is having 1 team each in the non AFL states of QLD and NSW worked much better. So as I said relocate the Giants to Canberra ( they already have great support there and the Suns to merge with a now defunct NT thunder it could really work . Oh to have the money and power influence when you need it. I would make those changes almost immediately. Ok let’s wait for the inevitable backlash .
Republican
Guest
......it's not about the 'Territories' is about the 'Nations Capital', which offers a strong symbology for the indigenous code. The nations capital has its Rugbies et el represented at elite tiers of respective codes but not so, the countries indigenous code. Thats simply not good enough. The NT boasts the highest per cap support for Australian rules Footy however I do appreciate the physical impediments to a stand alone side being based in Darwin.
Republican
Guest
........don't believe it is, certainly on a per cap basis while Manukas capacity is only 15k. If they expand the ground to 25k, they would pack it out most fixtures.
Gerry
Roar Rookie
I have got it. Move Gold Coast to Tas to be called Tas Devils. Relocate GWS to Canberra to be Canberra Colossus or keep Giants doesn’t matter too much. Then incorporate a NT team and a NZ team within 10 years. Sorted. NSW and QLD are rugby states so one team is enough I reckon for them each. That will make the 20 team comp. Fabulous and everyone represented in the nation and to our cousins in NZ No Vic teams need to go anywhere and hopefully everyone happy. All those who say NT too hot to play AFL they are already playing it and have been for ages in the NEAFL so that’s rubbish to poopoo that.
Virgil Starkwell
Guest
Seriously?! I live there. I don’t get the impression you’ve somehow imagined.
IAP
Guest
Nope. It doesn't matter if it drops anyway, because it'll be offset by not having to spend the money to prop up those two white elephants.
IAP
Guest
Newcastle is a much whiter town. Percentage wise, there's lots less immigrants who are rusted-on soccer people, or who come from non-sporting cultures. Plus, Novocastrians are very parochial - they'll follow a team that represents their town. Give them the red and blue stripes and and the locals will get behind them.
Martin
Roar Rookie
If the Tasmanian government was desperate for their own team they would need to construct a high-speed train between Launceston and Hobart. This would enable club members to attend matches in both cities.
Lroy
Guest
Jumpers would have to be red, because red jumpers make you run faster.
Lroy
Guest
You must have been listening to Kevin Bloody Wilson... put a team in Jutland Parade , ha ha.
Lroy
Guest
And they are pretty parochial up there as well. Wanneroo were a powerhouse in the old Sunday league, games between them and their old rivals Osborne Park would pull crowds that would rival a WAFL game. Subiaco - Burswood is a long way away from those northern suburbs so logically a new AFL team would feature the Wanneroo-Joondalup area. I used to play for Warwick in the Juniors and Whitfords were one of the sides we used to do battle with, Warwick had 27 junior teams when I was there...from under 10's to under 17's. Often it would be two Warwick sides playing off in the Grand Final against each other. They love their footy up there ;-)
Mitcher
Guest
Oh my, Melbourne bubble syndrome is far worse than previously imagined.
Michael Cleggett
Guest
...This insightful report into NSW and their heathen sports comes to you live from deep deep within the Melbourne bubble.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
No overdramatics there at all. That sort of emotionally driven response generally plays out with a high degree of irrational rigidity. Logically I'm not sure how the lifeblood of the very sport could be threatened by administrative management of teams between two leagues. The biggest problem would be how you could get player movement and a competitive list within an equalisation driven draft and trading model. From a constitutional standpoint, you could have a rule that each mainland state (or state above X population number) should have a minimum representation of 2 teams in the AFL to a maximum of 4/6 (depending on whether you want a 12 or 14 team model).
Cat
Roar Guru
Wouldn't drop much? Gee you are really kidding yourself now.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
They're competitionS, not a competition.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Given the Saints' record across 145 years, I reckon their level of support is astounding. Any club that can survive that deserves its spot in the AFL.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
There is a second tier: its called the VFL, SANFL and WAFL.