Well the Tasmania Devils are set to join the AFL. It's a great addition to the AFL but does beg a few questions, the most important one being which location will hold team 20?
Canberrans don't count GWS as Canberran. Newcastle is pretty much the same size as Canberra, but Canberra has the fans. Get the Giants to play a few games there to build up a fanbase. Canberra has the largest unrepresented AFL fanbase of any city. Greater Canberra has four times the population of Darwin. We have a 40% higher median income than Perth. Travesty that we weren't included. Happy to help with Canberra info if you ever make another video.
Newcastle is also close enough to Sydney that people can travel there on game day. And it doesn't have a cricket ground that is high enough capacity to support an AFL team.
They're about to do a big revamp of the area surrounding McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, making it an 'entertainment precinct'. I think it's madness that those plans don't include plans for a boutique oval stadium similar to GWS's Sydney Showground to give the city a realistic tilt at an AFL or Big Bash team. Missed opportunity. @@glurgbarble7268
Well said. Canberrans absolutely do not consider the Giants to be their team. There's zero link between Western Sydney and the Capital besides the highway. There are also far more footy followers in Canberra than there are in, say, Newcastle. We have a long history of the game in Canberra with long established clubs like Eastlake and Ainslie. We have the interest in footy, we have the disposable income, we have the population growth, we have the AIS, we're right here on the east coast and we're the nation's capital.
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
You left out a strong option, which is a standalone Canberra team. A team in Canberra would free up four GWS games a season, which could be played in Newcastle. So in the short- to medium-term, Newcastle is covered. Canberra is traditionally a rugby and NRL town, but the nature of Parliament, the defence force, and the public service means there will always be a strong contingent of residents from the southern states. It has over 500,000 people, more than the population as Tasmania, concentrated in one metro area. A team there could potentially secure additional members by playing some of its games in Albury-Wodonga.
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
Canberra was traditionally actually more of an AFL town. Although league and union were also played there, it wasn’t until the Raiders and the Brumbies joined that AFL fell behind whilst the other two shot up
@@trainco1643 that's right. But I think we should get Sydney and GWS working the city of Canberra better. Then see if its worth having a club knowing that you can't keep having unsustainable sides being propped up by 5 clubs.
@@BDub2024 very few in Canberra is interested in GWS, just the hardcore AFL fans. We'd rather support womens sport than an AFL side that we already subsidise that carries GWS as its name. I'm not supporting any AFL team until we get one in Canberra.
@@JustinWatson23 GWS is ridiculous. West Sydney Giants is far more sense and connects Western sydney suburbs to the team more than GWS ever will. Giants Western Sydney. I still think the acronym means nothing. Only planners use the term greater. I'm happy for Canberra to be added to the name. Get more games into Canberra and if the fans turn up enforce then the AFL will act for sure. But in the meantime, Giants is just propped up and you can't have half the teams in the comp being propped up by Eagles, Crows Collingwood and Essendon.
I’ll make a club, call it team Gary, win a premiership or 3 because it’s named after me. Do this until a 20th eventually team comes into the comp, pull out to make it fair for the rest of the teams
Calling Norwood an irrelevant team screams of vicbias. They are the second biggest team in sanfl. Port Norwood is a pies blues rivalry level. Although NT or Canberra should be first, a third SA team makes perfect sense.
@@user-uw8ru7eq5c Yes. There are some stalwarts in their fanbase but generally speaking the majority support the crows. Mainly because Norwood were one of the main clubs that pushed for the crows to be formed as they didn't wanna see Port Adelaide join the national comp.
Apart from some old stalwarts how many Crows fan would convert to Norwood? Adelaides been in the competition for over 30 years now, for people under 40 do they have much attachement to Norwood, they have grown up as Crows fans.
Newcastle would be a joke. Canberra has to be the next team up. If they want a new team in SA or WA, add two new for each state, and then Canberra makes a 24 team comp.
The afl would push for a Norwood team imo as they are established, Adelaide has showed their passion for footy and the stadium is there. However none of these options are great yet. We need more time
Norwood is the obvious and probably best choice. However the AFL shouldn’t make the same mistake as they did with Port and force them to abandon their identity
I’m a Norwood member and I would abandon my AFL club if Norwood entered. I’ve been a Norwood member since 1987, plenty I’ve talked to feel the same. There’s only so many colours, keep the Red and Blue and have a clash jumper.
Me too. Not only are there plenty of us, there are many disillusioned Crows fans who could be "converted" to a "real" club that is not Port. Add current only Norwood fans, Norwood fans who follow Port in AFL (there are actually a good number), plus new fans .. could get 20k plus to games to start. Norwood WANT it. They couldn't do much worse than a combined 3 flags in 61 combined seasons for Crows and Port thus far!!! 😮😅
Norwood would be a perfect fit. The Crows were a soulless,contrived mishmash born out of an acrimonious period at the birth of the AFL. The Port-Norwood rivalry would be a sensation on the national stage.
If Norwood gets accepted (they won't), they might as well bring in Sturt, North Adelaide and the rest of the SANFL teams as well. The fact that we cannot bring all these teams into the AFL is why the Crows exist in the first place. They represent all the other teams in the SANFL. Norwood is already represented by the Crows. Port got an AFL licence because they won the most premierships and were the most powerful team in the SANFL, they rightfully earned their AFL license. The bottom line is that Adelaide cannot support another team; Port and Crows can't even sell out Adelaide Oval. Andrew Dillion has already hinted that (while he respects the history of the club) Norwood will NOT get an AFL licence.
@@rhysh2639 Port got the licence by playing Judas on the SANFL....I recall this period intimately. Norwood were offered a licence in a clandestine manner but out of respect for SANFL process passed it up,a grave error with hindsight. Port had greater differentiation from Crows thus nabbed the second licence,it was nothing to do with their history. The entry of Tassie has changed the whole AFL dynamic. The door is now open for expansion and smaller teams with WA3 and SA3,Canberra or NT. The Crows were essentially a Glenelg construct at inception. Norwood would rapidly pull their supporter base back from the Crows and the city would be neatly divided into 1/3's. Support would be drawn from 450,000 for the 3 teams,a competitive number given we are Aussie rules state. WA3 will be strong competition given their greater population however this of higher migrant base proportionally. If WA3 do get the nod next then SA3 with Norwood will follow logically. This is a new era of AFL expansion,fascinating times.
@@timdixo It all sounds good in theory, but unfortunately Adelaide cannot support 3 teams and neither can Perth. Crows and Port can't even sell out Adelaide Oval. Port Adelaide were in dire straits back in the early 2010s and resorted to covering half the stadium in tarps to try and obscure the poor attendance. Imagine if a Norwood team was in the same position as Port were, they would be much worse off and would be in danger of folding. Plus the AFL wants to grow the game and expand the talent pool, putting another team in an area that's already AFL heartland does not do that. The AFL were even hesitant to put a team in Tasmania, because it is already an AFL dominant area despite not having a local team. Putting teams in areas like Canberra or NT will attract more young kids to play the sport. A Northern Australian team that plays in both Darwin and Cairns would be a reasonable option for a team (since the NT population is too low). Don't get me wrong, I think Norwood would be great to have in the league (if it was possible) but they just wouldn't be sustainable. Adelaide is just too small of a city for 3 teams. A population of 1.4 million just doesn't cut it.
Canberra is probaly the best location. 400k people in canberra plus an additinal 100,000 living within 2 hours. Could serve as a southen NSW team the Rverina, also south east nsw batemens bay and the coast. This doesnt dilute the SA, WA, or queensland teams. NT just doesnt have the infrastructure, population, or wealth for a team.
Yeah Bunbury in WA I think would be the best option, it’s about the same distance from Perth as Geelong is from Melbourne, it’s the highest populated country town in WA at 46,000 but you’d likely see people from the entire southwest jumping on that team and they already have a super competitive league in the south west that in recent times has generated heaps of AFL stars
Bunbury is the biggest shithole. Busso or Margs would garner support from the whole South West and would also capture a percentage of West Coast supporters as their second team. Joondalup would be more realistic because they would also use Optus until a potential renovation at Joondalup Arena.
I don’t know enough about WA to comment on Bunbury itself. But definitely think the next team has gotta be in WA - whether it’s your suggestion, Joondalup, or elsewhere in the state. WA is already footy state, and its population is rapidly growing. Should easily be able to support 3 teams.
Simply because they're not that obvious. Ditto for all the eastern seaboard. The AFL clubs are not that keen on more composite sides joining the competition. Emotional decisions are not logical, hence why Tasmania are still not settled.
I’d love to see a Northern Aus team, representing Darwin, Cairns and Islands. Great talent up there and Cairns actually has a half decent competition running and some talent from there (Dixon, Bowes). Take advantage of the NRL excluding them from having games there. Another WA or SA team, or a new Canberra team is probably the most viable though, just for player retention etc.
Give Canberra the 20th team with a population of 450000 with high standards of living. GWS Canberra games out do their primary home games with the city having a history of Aussie rules.ACT cricket went to upgrade Manuka to may have a BBL licence and play in the sheffield shield so a Canberra bid could piggyback off it’s. With the odd number of teams, the team who sit out for Gather round play a game in Adelaide( or the host city) in the round before on a Monday and the SA team their played have it gather round game on a Saturday night or Sunday. Play more games in the NT
Playing an extra game on Monday wouldn't work, who is going to play two games away in Adelaide, just so everybody gets a game in Adelaide. Unless it's port or Crows it's unlikely, and then do you want Port or Crows playing Monday? To then back up for a huge game a few days later in GR
@@74_pelicans someone will have to be left out of GR with 19 teams. let said that the Western Bulldogs missed out, since their played an away game against Port in the round before. I picked Monday because it is close to GR and have 5 days for Port to recover for a Saturday night game and doesn't have travel .
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
Norwood would be the no-brainer. Any match involving either the Crows or Port Adelaide at Adelaide oval will be a sell out, as would any match held at Coopers Stadium. I think you gave its capacity as 15,000, it is capable of holding 25,000 and that will probably be lower than the membership. There are no set up cost for the AFL, it's all in place to roar to life. The problem is that interstaters have no idea how popular the SANFL clubs actually are. In 1976 Port Adelaide V Sturt GF they lost count after 66,000 attended. People were sat along the boundary line. Don't underestimate the SANFL, its a strong league and even if not smooth it can handle transition between AFL and the State League quite comfortably. The major hurdle will be the SANFL cut in the deal as it will be lucrative without doubt, many South Ausies are well and truly ready for the Redlegs V Magpies(Power) battle to begin at the highest level once again.
I think you'll find that Norwood would have their foot in the door for the next licence. Holding 2 of the Gather Round games at Norwood are a big step forward in promoting them further. An established club that won't require bid handouts to start up. Financially stable. Still have a strong following in the SANFL, as witnessed by their huge support during any grand final. A massive rivalry with Port Adelaide that deserves to be seen nationally. Norwood is very much an affluent suburb on the eastern side of Adelaide, so well away from Port and the Crows. Big sponsorship is on the cards with international sponsors like Coopers, Wolff Blass and the legendary Penfolds. Norwood also have the Crows women's side playing home games at The Parade, which impresses the AFL. Norwood are heavily involved in their community, particularly the west coast which is crucial to their cause. Get on it !
One other possibility down the road is a Victorian goldfields team. Footy in Ballarat has been successful as of late and you could split the team between there and Bendigo. Good way to grow the game outside of the major cities. Probs not 20th team but maybe 22ndish in a time the at could start looking at multiple divisions
There are already at least 3 too many teams in Victoria. Really it should be five in Melb and one in Geelong. Going to Vic region is going backwards. No really, its Perth or bust.
@@horacehamilton2191 There won't be another team in Victoria, There needs to be a number of teams merged. If North remains they should be forced to work the multicultural areas of Melbourne. Melb has huge immigration in, but a lot of Melbournites are moving north to Queensland. So the immigrants don't have a clue about AFL. North Melb get all the handouts and freebies to stay afloat but don't pull their weight. North should have been based in the outer suburbs of Melbourne before redeveloping Arden St.
@@horacehamilton2191 North Island Roo/Kiwis in New Zealand. North Queensland Roos. Northern Territory Roos. Canberroos. Bulldogs need to play more into Ballarat and those areas of Victoria to build their supporter base more. North have never properly embraced any of the locations they've tried play home matches in. Remember when they just wanted to be called "Kangaroos" to be the team that Australians would follow. Then they played a few home matches in Sydney without properly embracng it. Sydney Swans ran a boo a roo campaign.
My pick 1. Canberra (GWS does not count as Canberra and can draw in big crowds) 2. Southern Perth (Rockingham, Mandurah or Bunbury) 3. Adelaide (Norwood or a Southern Adelaide team near Noarlunga might work) 4. Northern Perth (Joondalup) 5. Bendigo (Would draw crowds from the Hume and Nothern Victoria region) 6. Launceston (only if the Devils are a success) 7. Newcastle (not now but at least in a decades time) 8. Darwin (can’t see it happening) 9. Auckland (only for some games, not a full team)
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
Even Mandurah has the potential to destroy the Dorkers. Rockingham definitely will. Joondalup has less impact on Eagles. Its a real rugby and soccer heartland due to first generation poms and springboks. but has a tradition with West PErth there who has a traditional fanbase. But in another 5 years and they'll mostly be in their 70s
Perth is currently 2.2 million. I assume that includes Mandurah. You're probably right about State being 2.8 million. Perth is set to be 3 million within a decade.
Canberra is definitely the obvious choice. Has the facilities, the fan base and is literally the capital. I'd love a Darwin/NT team but it will cost a lot, same as a NQL team which is also an untapped market. Another WA or SA team would work but is basically cutting into a market that's already there. Newcastle would be a great spot in theory, especially with it unlocking the massive market of north coast NSW (something that the NRL team does well), but has the setback of putting a team in a rugby league strong area, competing with an A-League team as well for fans, and doesn't have an AFL sized stadium (McDonald Jones Stadium is great for a rectangle field but not an oval). The other option, which is definitely the biggest gamble of all, is following rugby league's decision from 30 years ago and taking the game to NZ. The biggest criticism of AFL is that the sport doesn't matter anywhere else, and taking the professional game to another country would bolster its international interest. Although the team itself hasn't had individual success, the Warriors has had a massive impact on rugby league in NZ, and an AFL team could do the same. It all comes down to how big of a risk the AFL wants to put into the 20th team. They can go big and place the team somewhere which could have big benefit but also fail financially, or secure a safe option that further increases the size of the game.
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
Newcastle will never happen. NZ needs to start having games in an AFL stadium in Auckland. That's years away as cricket can't get their stadium there properly sorted yet.
Good video but surprised it didn't cover Canberra and New Zealand as the most valid ideas. New Zealand offers more growth - and Canberra has a lot of interest in AFL already without a side
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
Didn't feature Canberra because the Giants are heavily based there but I get the thinking behind it. Just seems the AFL has put in a lot of work getting the Giants a foothold there.
If WA gets a new team, it'd really even out the travel demands on the WA teams with one less away game for the WA teams and extra travel for the Vic clubs - and getting an 8:10 WA time game every now and then would be amazing for atmosphere n attendance
Why? Pisses me off when they bring international teams into competitions. Raptors, Breakers etc. Make your own league. Goal isn't to make the league international. Leave it with a 20th AUSTRALIAN team and stop fucking expanding
@@mitchhansen8132as much as I'd love to see a team in Wellington, you probably hit the nail on the head. My only experience with AFL is from my Aussie Mates or playing it a little bit in PE
Canberra (although I do wish it would be NT) surely has to be next, by far the biggest market that is still fully just untouched. Most people from Canberra just really dont go for the giants, and the support would absolutely be there for a standalone team
@SKIPPAFC haven't had an owner for 4 years and being propped up by 4 other a league clubs, the APL have advised they can no longer do that so unless the administrators can find an owner there will no longer be the side from Newcastle
As someone who has previously been heavily involved with AFL in Newcastle( since 1978) , I nearly choked on my coffee when I saw this. The AFL is at best a part time game in Newcastle /Central coast area. It has no AFL standard grounds, no finances and no substantial team sponsorships ( one club gives it player of the day a free subway each week).Many years ago the then NSWAFL attempted to get a Newcastle team to play in the Sydney competition....it failed . Many years ago there was an AFL standard ground used in Newcastle but it has now been turned into a rugby league ground and the Newcastle Knights use it. Whilst the standard of the game in Newcastle has improved greatly...there are NO AFL STANDARD players locally...you would have to draft the entire team from elsewhere. I think a permanant team in Canberra is much more likely to succeed .
A lot of inconsistency with reasoning and some things just plain wrong; Another Perth or Adelaide team have exactly the same pros and cons, and Perth doesn't have 2.8 million people. There is also the incorrect conflation of population with market. The Hunter region might have almost 1 million people but it does not have an AFL market of 1 million. Canberra deserves more discussion. It does already have 4 professional sport teams. Sunshine Coast/Moreton Bay will have 1 million people soon. They only have a netball team and a new NRL team. If the criteria is population, markets, and growing the game then that should also be a part of the discussion.
WA has 2.8 million. Perth 2.2 million. With growth rate is expected to hit 3 million within 8 years. Perth is a lot more feasible due to the population and the wealth of both existng clubs. It will come down to whether WA football commission accept that a third team will lead to them having more money and more consistent revenue or not. Under the model, both Eagles and Dockers pay considerable dividends to WAFC each year and that runs junior development and the WA footy system. WAFC will only say yes if the arguments stack up. AFL is likely to agree if it means that they don't have to fund any shortfalls in WA footy development.
GWS own Canberra they just have to do it better by Vic clubs and GWS / Sydney playing home and away matches there each year. Straight away that would mean 8 games per year. Then you can look at the sums.
If you watched the Gather Round games at Norwood on the weekend, nobody else would be in front of Norwood for the 20th licence. Coincided with the Norwood Food and Wine Festival which was very well attended. It's a given that SA is the festival state and it outs on the best sporting events that are second to nobody. Population has nothing to do with the decision, it's participation. Norwood are ready now, unlike Tasmania. That is a huge sticking point for other areas where the emotional decision is often overlooking the logical choice.
@@gregrobins5615 If SA is the festival state, then Adelaide is the mullet capital of Australia. Its great that you're patriotic to SA, but the lack of population and the fact that population growth is so slow will stop a third team from happening. I would say that SANFL does have more interest than WAFL. In WA there is little interest in WAFL really. Tassie isn't ready that's true. I'm not convinced about Canberra and definitely not Darwin or N Queensland. But a team in SA just isn't going to happen. Sorry for disappointment. If WAFC want it and push hard for it, then it will squeeze out any team in SA. Question is whether they will want it.
@@gregrobins5615 In the end if WAFC don't want it from PErth then there is no way it will happen. If WAFC lodge a compelling case to the AFL then the AFL may very well listen. As the case would be about how WA footy is best funded. Two teams is a risk if both teams are doing badly. So time will tell.
I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but what Victorian team would agree to this? Even north, with all its poor on field results and low membership base has been adamant in refusing suggested mergers and/or interstate moves for the last 30+ years.
St kilda is the logical choice, absolute money pit constantly in debt, and have more spoons then anyone by a country mile and only 1 more flag then gws freo and the suns.
Sheedy is the only smart guy left in the game when it comes to expanding the code. Newcastle and Canberra is where the game needs to go. These were both AFL strongholds many decades ago, but the AFL didn’t give them any respect and the code languished until it died. Though to be fair Canberra still has a lot of footy fans but no team to support, even though the Raiders have been there for 40+ years taking all the focus. More teams in NSW is how the game gains traction. More teams means more coverage on TV, radio and newspapers, more awareness and more free to air televised games. The road to success will be long but the payoff will be enormous. A truly national competition vs a QLD/NSW state league.
A permanent team in Canberra would be best. GWS only play there when their home ground in unavailable because of the Sydney Royal Easter Show. They could easily play at the SCG for those 2-3 matches, or even schedule a bye for them in that period.
the quickest way to even up the comp after tassi come in is to drop a team and keep it 18 teams. i dont think the people have the stomach for that. so in pushing for a 20th team probably a WA team. a lot of people are thinking the red legs in Adelaide but there is an option. sturt and Norwood proposed a merger nearly 30 years ago i think. maybe follow that throw have an east Adelaide team that takes in mt barker and you could have an 20th team in Adelaide
The West Australian football commission who own both WA AFL licences have already had a consortium approch them about a joint bid and financial backing for a 3rd AFL team based in Perth
But who will follow a third WA side, expatriate South Africans ? The AFL clubs aren't in favour of more composite sides, particularly that WA have 2 already. The big one to add is travel.
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
South West WA would be better than another metro team. Fly in and out of Busselton and get a big buy in from an area that loves tourism and footy. A trip to the Margaret River wine region whilst watching your team play and a state govt with a good surplus to help build a venue.
Perth to Bunbury is 1 hour 50 minutes by car. By train almost 3 hours as its indirect. Not enough population. Cost too high. Long term there is a benefit as Busselton and Margaret River/Dunsborough region will have massive growth. Mandurah is probably a better option as its closer to Perth to capture more people. People still could drive up from Bunbury for approx 1 hour trip. Unfortunately, no train goes near Mandurah from Bunbury. Could still be South West Peel. Mandurah does seem a sleep town doesn't it, so I'm not convinced. Imagine the Vic clubs whinging about having to fly to Perth and then to Bunbury. I guess they could private jet to Busselton and then bus to Bunbury. Any club would never go to Busselton. Mandurah or bust... highly unlikely Bunbury.
Outside the square there could be a team in the Swan Valley with large expansion in Ellenbrook and other suburbs. Plenty of footy fans out there. But would they shift teams is the question. They don't exactly have a footy heritage when you go deep into the new suburbs.
New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are the only international markets AFL could possibly gain a foothold. Auckland should be the next club, even if it takes 30 years, like the Sydney Swans, they'd gain a foothold eventually.
@@jackfield8682I think an important point as A New Zealander is the cultural differences within our country. A team in Wellington would work as it's more of a creative and diverse city, while in Christchurch or Auckland is a lot more homogeneous, and is a lot of rugby competition. Wellington has managed to support an A-league team after multiple failed expansions in Auckland
@@hamdog9703 that would definitely help the case and also sky stadium can accommodate a team with 30,00-40,00 people watching and there is less competition for getting people to games as there would be another 2 pro teams (Wellington saints and hurricanes) that play in the city at the same time
If we do get to 20 teams it might be the right time to adopt a two division set up ...Either two lots of 10 teams 0r a premier 12 team comp . 22 games again with each team playing all other 11 clubs twice and an 8 team second division with three rounds so 21 games Maybe home and away for 7 rounds x2 and interspersed with the other seven meetings at a neutral location such as regional places to foster the game as well there ,, ..The Grand Finalists in the second division go up the next year and the bottom two in the premier level fall back .. Cheers....
I am hope for the 20th licence to be Canberra. Downsides is when we over looked in b grade sport in Australia. Basketball and soccer I don't hold much hope for the IT sector to invest in an AFL club. But Canberra have expat from Melbourne,Adelaide and Perth. Build the stadium in Woden where the tram will go to in 5 years, fingercrossed
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
@@BDub2024 the giants should drop western out of the name. Making the media supports say Sydney to associate to the location more. Carn Greater Sydney Given we haven't had the big boy clubs and still average more than Sydney including the derby game. I think we would average 10k. But would need a 25k seat stadium, Manuka could be redeveloped for 20k if cricket Australia worked together. Understand the demo of Canberra, we are half million in the region. That has more disposal income than other part of Australia. We have a booming IT sector and related sector that will draw corporate dollars. We have a large south state population who follow there teams, before the NRL it was a 50/50 town. Case in point Ainslie was and still is one of the richest AFL clubs in operation. We have both the money and population to service all 4 codes (give us the a league team as promised) While we have the giants, we understand we are paying for them, we would rather have our own. As such the giants are still people's second team. I am sure playing other clubs in Canberra will draw 10k, those Melbourne clubs are still better playing in Melbourne and need to service there support base. (There is a conversation to reduce the Melbourne club but given the scars of Fitzroy they don't want to have a real conversation about that, and play clubs out of second location in gest) Canberra deserves its own team
Joondalup and neighbouring suburbs has a huge number of people of English and South African birth. Then Wanneroo has a lot of New Zealanders. So in the precinct its fair to say there is a lot of soccer and rugby union fans. Having said that the northern suburbs is a typical footy loving, beach loving area. Mandurah is a sleepy holiday town 70km from Perth. Very fast growing. They love their footy, but it has a holiday mentality. I'm not convinced they're passionate enough to back a team and then travel to Perth to watch them play at home. There won't be a stadium of adequate size built in Mandurah. Certainly their local WAFL team has very low support despite being there for 25 years.
Well said, for expansion reasons Newcastle makes the most economical sense and is the second biggest city in NSW, which is continuing to grow to a bigger population as people look to escape the higher house prices of Sydney. But just like GWS when they first started, it's very much is NRL heartland and as everyone can see at any gws home game, they still have a way to go to maintain decent crowd numbers.
How does Newcastle make more sense than Canberra? Similar sizes, but Canberrans are wealthier and already have a decent AFL following. Get the Giants to play a couple of games a year in Newcastle to grow AFL support there before they get a team.
Newcastle doesn't make economical sense. The amount of money that would be needed (and lost) building a stadium, training facilities and attempting to grow local interest all for it to inevitably fail isn't a good economical decision.
Lads came down! 😆.. its just a speculative video.. And Canberra wasn't even brought up in the of the four options mentioned, but agree that should also be looked at.. Realistically Tassie should have been given a team before gws or suns due it's closer ties to AFL, but unfortunately as we all know its all to do with growing the game in locations with higher population and investment for more $$$
Bring in 3 division comp. Including state league teams with relegation & promotion based on wins. All divisions have 10 or 12 teams. Every team plays each other twice in a year. This would also make a more equitable national comp.
I wonder if you could do Mandurah at the far outer suburb of Perth. 80km from CBD. They could also service the South West and be called the South West Thunder (using Peel's nickname). They would also play in Bunbury. It would hurt Fremantle's support though.
Other parts of Australia are still unrepresented. Cocos/Keeling Islands. Australian Antarctic Territory. That bit where the refugee boats get stuck, Ashmore reef. Yeah, none of you gave them a second thought.
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
@@BDub2024 This is a bigger question of the fairness of the home and away concepts. It needs a revamp. I think it should be equalised on the km travelled each. An away game for a Victorian team against another Victoria is more or less a home game because of the lack of travel. We should be aiming to fix this. Also, GWS, yes, is excellent for CANBERRA but really are needed to penetrate AFL in western Sydney, after the 3 games in Canberra they only have 8 in Sydney, if CANBERRA had their own team this would allow GSW to actually do what they were created for, and that is to be a Parramatta and western suburbs beacon for AFL in Australia’s biggest city.
@@vegetarianfoodie9091 Vic clubs just don't travel much in comparison. I think Vic clubs should be playing home and away matches in regional areas such as Canberra, Darwin and N Qld during the season. Home and away eliminates giving away a home advantage. GWS Syd Bris and Suns should be involved too. But not Perth or Adelaide teams that rely on having 11 games in their home city. Whereas some Vic clubs can play 16 or more games a year in Melbourne.
What's going to happen once the comp is 20 teams? I don't know if we want a bigger competition than 20. To broaden the Australian market then, the Melbourne teams would need to be reduced. A second tier could provide an option to continue the heritage
If Auckland had a proper Cricket Ground with MCG dimensions, and 40k a NZ team would be great. Black, White, and silver Guernseys. Call them the Falcons like the int team. You could have 8 or 9 games in Auckland and 2 or 3 in Wellington a season and have a gather Round in NZ
@@BDub2024 Yeah at the old Western Springs stadium. I personally think it should be in South Auckland, I know it is a Rugby League stronghold, but it would make it easier for people from the Waikato to attend games. I'm from Hamilton, and I would like to watch, I don't think Seddon Park would have a big enough oval to have the odd game. But I would love to see Collingwood play in NZ. I always like them cause they have black and white colour, plus I love magpies I think they are funny and cheeky birds. Not a bandwagoner either, I got my first Guernsey in 2007.
@@michaelcampbell8112 There needs to be 6 games in NZ each year to see if it works. I don't really understand why games aren't currently being played in Wellington. Surely NZ tourism is doing some sponsorship of the games. But needs games in Auckland too. First let that happen for 15 years. Then of course look at a team.
As a Novocastrian bring up AFL is mostly met with "what gay F L?" but it is getting better slowly. The AFL playing games in Canberra manuka oval and Bendjo mars stadium makes me think thats where they are looking...testing the waters building a fans like they did in tasmania for years before making a team.
I think if the Giants or Swans, Even the ladies played a few games up there now and again to get some interest into it. I mean when looking at the NRL, how hard have they invested expanding into rival codes?
@@savageduck4487 AFL may have had friendly matches or pre season games in newy but not regular season like @TAS,Benjo or ACT. It doesn't make tactile sense to play away from you fan base so it must make financial sense. The AFL must pays them to play in place like ACT. So they must have a plan for that region. That all i am trying to say. I just can't see the AFL paying the roo's to play in the ACT for the few 1000's north Melbourne fans living in Canberra.
Its no chance of happening. Canberra Country NSW is more likely. But GWS can do it better if they play home and away matches there. Its simple really. Clubs like Saints play GWS both home and away in Canberra. So, the effect of playing there is neutralised for the clubs. IF GWS play Melb Saint and Hawks home and away there, then its 6 games in Canberra straight off. If same clubs do it every year then it will really build support.
@@TetherT this is true. It would be the long game to get it going. Canberra from my opinion going there as an outsider is an anomaly of people. It is full of people from all over the country. Though there are local born people there are just heaps of others from the other states of which end up moving out. Newcastle is interesting in regards they do have a competition, so does Wagga. Maybe Newcastle in the next few decades become the next, next team and or one of the vic teams drop. Will the Australian population be enough to have a full second division to enable relegation and promotions like the premier league? Another question for another day. Another problem to debate about
U forgot Canberra to btw plus it wouldn’t be the worst idea to send north Melbourne up to the NT as a team already established fanbase and money they get low crowds anyway so that isn’t a big deal so stadium build won’t be a problem plus they can have half their home games at marvel to compensate the fans Down in Victoria if not we’ll send the Gold Coast suns as they are pretty much undefeated up there in Alice Springs
North's "low crowds" would still be bigger than what a NT side would get, and playing home games split on two ends of the country is not a good idea whatsoever. Gold Coast is a huge emerging market, the whole of SEQ is an emerging market for footy... no reason to move the club now.
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
The 20th side has to be Canberra, they have the population and the people there will support any code. Make the colours Bright Green, Royal Blue & Gold. GWS need to focus solely on Western Sydney, because I feel that them playing games in Canberra is counter-productive to their growth in the Western Sydney region. Plus, people in Canberra deserve their own full-time team. As for the Northern Territory, there would need to be a "Northern Australia" team. Have them based in Cairns for one half of the season, then move them to Darwin for the second half. One game per year in Alice Springs. That is the only way a NT team would work. A Newcastle/Central Coast team should come after that, to even it out after the Northern Australian team. Then cap it at 22 teams. Expand to 20 first, then wait maybe 10 or 20 years for the next 2 teams. WA does not need another team and neither do SA.
@@gregrobins5615 It won't happen, there is nothing to be gained by putting another team in SA, especially when the Adelaide AFL teams have struggled in recent years. The AFL want to grow the game and attract new fans, SA is already a footy-mad state. Most people there already support either the Crows or Port. Andrew Dillon basically hinted that he doesn't think a Norwood side is "sustainable".
@@rhysh2639 If you watched the channel 7 report shown in SA and Victoria, Dillon was very positive about Norwood. The AFL clubs are not in favour of more composite sides joining the AFL. Norwood are ready now as witnessed by the Gather Round support. It's not based on population, but participation. The AFL are well aware of Norwood and their strong community work, strong supporter base, success, rivalry with Port and the fact that Norwood helped out the Crows AFLW side. The AFL aren't necessarily looking at new markets but going back to looking at the best established club outside the AFL.
Joondalup Falcons, you guys have Freo and they're still nothing compared to Eagles, no point getting another Southern team to steal Fremantles already small fanbase.
@@jackhudson2237nah- as far as afl clubs go, freo have a relatively large fanbase and at that, the south west region of wa is far enough out of perth that both sides are equally supported. As someone living very close to Joondalup, it’s not viewed as its own city- it’s just an urban centre in perth, a city that doesn’t rlly have the population for 3 teams. Having a south-west team would be much more viable for the new club
@jackhudson2237 Hey? The South West doesn't support Freo because it's marginally closer than Perth. Most of us support West Coast. Then Freo. Then the rest of the teams in the league. Location doesn't have anything to do with our support.
How many people down there are willing to pay for a membership for this Bunbury team? Ask yourself that. Because another failed franchise is the last thing the AFL needs. I already know the answer to this question because the closest team in the WAFL to Bunbury is Peel, nobody likes Peel.
The only real answer is Canberra tbh, it doesn't have the issues that would plague it like a 3rd WA team (long distance and just not enough population to make it worth diluting the support of the other WA teams), canberra while about split in terms of AFL and rugby, but the Canberra team can capitalise in the high afl support on cities like Wagga and can hold some games at Wagga, as well as growing the game to some cities to the east
What are talking about? Eagles have 100,000 members in a 60k seat stadium. I'd say a 3rd team in a football state is a wiser choice than a tiny town in nsw that supports rugby.
@@jackhudson2237 canberra is very much a 50/50 split on afl and nrl, hence why its a very good idea to spread there, to win over more fans, also wagga wagga is an afl town, a 3rd WA team wouldnt bring in more fans to the afl, it would just be eating at the west coasts fanbase, who already dont really sell out optus stadium that often, and have only had an average home crowd above 50k twice in 2018 and 2019
@@jackhudson2237 What percentage of Perth do you realistically think a third team would capture? It's not like a third of Perth is going to jump ship. Freo is pretty much half the size of West Coast. I expect WA3 to struggle to reach half the size of Freo. So that equals 1/7th of Perth for WA3. Let's be really generous and say they'll capture 1/5 of Perth. That's 460k. There's 560k within an hour of Manuka. So both markets aren't too dissimilar in size, but Canberra actually adds to the fanbase. Just bring Optus up to 70k as it was designed to do and make two behemoth clubs in Perth.
@@padstah3747 are you seriously suggesting another team to try and steal more rugby fans? We already bought in Suns and Giants to do that and look how that turned out. They are both tiny clubs that have no fans, even North Melbourne dwarfs those 2 clubs, and you want a Canberra team that will also struggle to get fans?
@canberrapear7219 yeah great point bringing up the Eagles attendance while their form has been worse than Fitzroy. Are we just going to forget that they've been getting over 100,000 members since 2019 despite finishing last? You can pretend that a Canberra team will be more successful than a WA club based in joondalup, which already has loyal fans all you want. Another failed club over East isn't happening again because the AFL can't continue to keep subsidising QLD and NSW clubs. WA and SA are where the AFL will continue to expand the game now.
As someone from Newcastle, I’d love to see our city represented in a real national competition. But I feel that there is another couple locations deserving of a club first. There are plans to build a cricket stadium (around the size of GIANTS Stadium) next to McDonald Jones Stadium as apart of a sports precinct project the city is investing in. But politics in Newcastle is slow since the state government puts all our taxpayer money into Sydney. As much as I hate to say it, our town is definitely the least interested into the great game of Australian Football. This town is heavily built on Rugby League and has its roots in Soccer as well. However over the years, more people have started giving AFL a chance. Whilst it’s not gonna take over League anytime soon, it’s certainly on the rise in our region. Another point that wasn’t mentioned in the video about Newcastle was the amount of talent that the Newcastle AFL Club Academy would bring to the game. The Hunter/New England/North Coast region is the biggest untapped market of young talent in the game. It’s currently in the hands of the Swans Academy, but they only focus on Inner-Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle as opposed to the whole region. Whilst I certainly think Newcastle SHOULD be introduced into the AFL at some stage. There are other locations the AFL should expand to in order to fill the gap for Team 20. In the meantime, the AFL should invest more into developing the game in our region and converting the traditional Leaguies and Soccer followers to the Australian game. (Sorry for the long comment. I feel inclined to say something as someone from Newcastle myself 😅)
The complex at McDonald Jones stadium was ORIGINALLY planned as a two ground complex in an attempt to get the Commonwealth games in Newcastle . Of course only 1 stadium was built ( much later on they added the hockey ground and the race track). AFL used to be played at the McDonald Jones ground back in the 1970's but then Newcastle got a team in the NRL and the ground was converted to a dedicated league ground and AFL moved to Newcastle No1 Sports Ground.....a ground far too small for AFL with no real room for expansion . The AFL could possibly build a stadium at Hawkins oval/Passmore oval area but it would be a complete build from the ground up....and Newcastle council WONT put up money and probably neither would NSW state government, and I cant see the AFL paying for it all.
As someone from North Perth I can tell you a third team will not work here. Eagles already have a tight grip on this place and our WAFL teams are terrible (Perth Demons, Swan Districts). WAFL attendance is pretty woeful and has been for a while. Newcastle seems like the best option to me. By the way people around here pronounce Mandurah more like "Man-drah" (kind of like Canberra). You almost got Joondalup right except the U is more like an "uh" instead of "oo".
I'd support the Falcons if they joined the league, I can't even get a seat to watch the Eagles lose by 15 goals every game. This state %100 needs another team north. Can't split Fremantles already small fanbase, Eagles have to be cut down because this is just ludicrous.
I mean Perth demons have been in the mud for the last 25 years but yh wafl attendance is shocking these days even the “bigger” clubs struggle getting 2500 now
Team 20 will likely be a team that surprises many, I think either Western Brisbane, or Sunshine Coast in Queensland with a growing AFL base. a third WA team, or a third NSW team. then there is Canberra, or finally the most surprising and probably the most unlikely of the lot, a team in New Zealand, particularly in or around Auckland. When we look at the NT, there would be a need to develop an air-conditioned stadium to accommodate for the Darwin weather, which would cost a significant amount of money.
The AFL already made official that an Auckland based New Zealand team would be looked at in the coming decades once an oval stadium was build in Auckland’s cbd for test cricket so it may become more likely once the dilemma is resolved has a significant population to maintain a licence
@@jamesmunn867 Spot on. A lot of what you're saying here is absolutely correct. I think they're looking at grounds arount Mt Smart aren't they? Its a natural amphitheatre and being used for other sports currently. But those sports need to be moved first, then cricket can move. I might have the location name wrong. AFL is getting involved to have something suitable too. Wellington stadium was built with AFL in mind too. But really needs the grounds ready and for a club like North/Hawks/Saints to be having games there consistently.
@bwood2464 they’ve mostly been making oval stadium proposals in Western Springs, Colin Maiden Park and Victoria Park to shift test cricket from Eden Park in the far north which is Rugby shaped into the cbd so the Saints and AFL would likely be keeping a close watch can still host games in Wellington though but Auckland’s bigger population will be their prime focus 🏟️🏏
@@jamesmunn867 I don't think a NZ based team is going to happen for team 20, but I do think it will happen either as team 21 or 22, because AFL going international is inevitable at this point The most likely for team 20, is a third WA, a Canberra-based team, and a third QLD team. We will find out by the end of this decade who will get the 20th license.
@@jamesmunn867 I was staggered at how the Eden Park development didn't better allow for cricket there. Haven't they heard of temporary stands (for rugby) or stands that can slide in/out when required. Just so it could accommodate a decent sized cricket ground. In the end it would have been far cheaper for govt, as they'll have to invest in a new cricket venue now and help pay for stands etc... Good for AFL in the end I assume if Auckland cricket ever develop a ground for AFL and cricket.
Despite being a mighty hawks fan, i will move to newcastle if we get a team here. We have a big afl community here, despite being nrl strong, with clubs such as newcastle city blues, cardiff hawks, lake macquarie dockers and more. In addition, there are manh places here where stadiums could be potentially built. Suchas the old Cardiff hawks ground near glendale shopping centre being in a similar area like where newcastle knights rugby league are located. But as stated in the video, newcastles government has to fund the stadium before anything. Praying we get the big thumbs up Edit: nickname ideas Newcastle leapords Newcastle thunder
So after the West Coast debacle today, is there really anyone in WA who would push for a third licence on their recent performances ? Come on AFL, just tell us that Norwood are in and everyone can move on !
AFL already prop up 4 clubs in Qld and NSW... now Tassie... then 4 Victorian clubs and Port Adelaide. 10 of the 19 clubs can't sustain themselves and rely on handouts by taxing the wealthier clubs. Or more precisely the AFL giving the bigger clubs a significantly smaller dividend. That's not fair and sooner or later the big clubs members will wake up and see that by being members they help all the other clubs. It doesn't lead to better players or more premierships, because of the hard cap and soft cap... Clubs can keep earning more money but never use the funds. Members will wake up and hold on to their money.
@@vegetarianfoodie9091 TV rights will pay for a lot of things. An extra match leads to more money. But it also further weakens the product and means that the strongly supported clubs are less likely to be free to air. Also means more trashy matches on Fox often competing with each other on multiple channels.
Imagine a 6 team Melbourne competition. Melbourne, North Melbourne, South Melbourne, East Melbourne, West Melbourne and Geelong. That would be kinda funny, to be honest.
2 Things 1. Gather Round wont work with an odd Number of Teams because the whole concept of Gather Round is every team is playing in 1 state and you cant do that with an odd number of teams 2. If the AFL want to go Risky is the AFL could Potentially expand into NZ. the Main logistical issue with that is NZ and WA are 4 hrs apart in the Winter and 5hrs apart in Summer which while AFL is A winter sport when talking about time 3 od 4 weeks of the season are played in the Summer
The Eagles and Dorkers should skip the Gatherround anyway. Its really tough for all the travel that they do and to have another away game and all the extra travel for Gatherround is quite unfair.
Until there are at least 5 AFL games in NZ each season it can't even be a consideration. They've stopped in Wellington which is stupid. Then Auckland cricket and govt can't get their cricket stadium sorted. They are wanting a replacement with AFL involvement too. But there are a few steps away from that occurring. So Auckland needs to be finished and they need games at Auckland and Wellington first.
As someone from Newcastle I can attest that hardly anyone cares about AFL here. You'd need to spend 2-300mil on a Stadium that no one will be willing to pay for.
New zealand would be good but the Afl gets no crowd there. WA is dominated by West coast. Maybe SA could get a team. Northen Queensland or Northen Territory are solid options but there is a few logistical issues there. Canberra is also good aswell. It should either be them or NT to solidfy the Afl as a national Comp. Eventually they can look into playing matches overseas where there is interest, like in the US.
Get a team in Mandurah to the south and the south west. Problem is that it could eat into Fremantle support and Mandurah is a sleepy old town where people love boating, fishing and crabbing...
I reckon the WA team is a great idea but i would also make it more of a “North-West” team, representing NT like how giants do Canberra. Play a few games up there a year but based out of WA. Gives you the player and supporter base from NT but with the financial stability/viability from northern WA.
AFL is a niche sport (played not even Australia wide). Player depth is stretched as it is on 40 man rosters x 18 teams. If anything, kill off a Victorian club to facilitate Tasmania entry. No need for 20th team, Suns and Giants are still cash drains with a small fan base.
Insufficient population in Northern Territory. Plus many fans would still barrack for their existing AFL club instead of supporting a new Darwin team. That would be disastrous as NT would require every citizen to support the team passionately and a lot of people turning up. You can't have a proportion of footy fans not wanting to support the team. A transient population doesn't help the cause either.
AFL will definitely want a 20th team at some stage, that is an extra game a week to sell for the next broadcast deal. The talent is there you just need teams in the right places. Expansion into rugby league strongholds is not a good idea personally. The Giants have been very successful on field, yet fail to draw big crowds. The AFL should stay well clear of Newcastle. The 20th team should represent northern Australian (Darwin & Cairns), with the odd game in Alice. Think of the home grown talent there. Plus footy is popular so they will bring crowds. Still gets what the AFL wants, teams in rugby league areas, but can also fall back on the NT as an Aussie Rules territory. I'd also even consider moving the Giants to Canberra on a permanent basis as they always draw big crowds there, and then bring the odd game to western Sydney. I also think moving a Melbourne team to country Victoria would be a big win. Either the Bulldogs or Kangaroos (probably the Bulldogs as they already play in Ballarat, can still be called the Western Bulldogs). Unless the AFL wants 21 or 22 teams I don't see a third Perth or Adelaide team working. Will be a hard sell to convert established fans.
A unified Northern team representing, at least for now, the NT, and the northern parts of Queensland. NT plus Queensland's Far North, North, Central, and Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday regions adds up to 1.2 million people, more than double Tasmania's population. Logistically it's challenging, but it definitely expands the AFL's reach. Could play most of their games in Darwin and Cairns, with occasional games in Alice Springs, Mackay, and Townsville.
@@jackhudson2237Wrong. Multicode town. Less AFL than Victoria, but more AFL than any other city north of the Murray. Canberra would have more unrepresented AFL fans than any other city.
@canberrapear7219 this is a very biased opinion for you. Just curious, how many members do you think this Canberra club would get? Because the AFL needs to bring in clubs that will make money rather than lose it.
@@jackhudson2237 Biased, but informed, as I actually live in Canberra. Every single workplace I've been in has favoured AFL. There are more footy clubs than league clubs. We used to favour AFL even more so before we were neglected. A Canberra team would probably get around 35-40k members. And we'd be financially viable. We'd likely get $2.85m in local funding, plus Manuka naming and sponsorship rights, so we'd have about a $5m a year headstart over somewhere like Perth. Plus that fact than Canberrans are wealthy. We have a 41% higher median income than Perth. So you can charge more for memberships, and our broadcast value is greater per capita.
I think a North Queensland AFL team should be considered as well. With the tropical climate of Darwin, an east coast timezone, 4-5x the population of the Top End and growing with all the Victorians moving up there, plus also being closer to where many Aboriginal players come from, Townsville or Cairns would also satisfy the AFL's mantra of growing the game.
Agreed, if you split australia in half vertically pretty much 0 teams are on the top halve (depending which side the qld teams fall under) and cairns already has a half decent completion
Northern Territory has no chance. Not enough people and they barely get any crowds at their games. A lot of the tickets to games currently would be freebies. How many people would seriously go to 11 matches per year. Furthermore, how many would pay for expensive corporate boxes and seating that actually makes more money for the club and AFL. The whole stadium would basically be general admission and probablyl end up with less than 10,000 paid spectators each match. AFL needs to think. Put 11 matches there in 2025 with some big Victorian clubs. How many fans would they average seriously. It would be around 8000 absolute max.
Newcastle is too nrl focused, gws, Brisbane, Gold Coast are bad enough, even the swans are dwarfed by nrl in their own city despite being one of the most recognisable and sizeable sporting teams in australia. Give the team to an area that actually cares about the sport.
I believe a team there would work, however it has to be a long-term plan. The AFL needs to host premiership matches in the area and work on generating more interest for the game in the Hunter region (as well as the Central Coast). Yes, it's a rugby league area but unfortunately rugby league is a dying sport, modern parents don't want their kids playing rough contact sports anymore (especially with all the concussion research that has come out recently). Australian Rules Football has been watered down significantly to make the game more attractive for future generations, you cannot do the same with Rugby League without turning it into "touch footy". There are even talks of phasing out tacking in the AFL and making it a non-contact sport like basketball or soccer. I don't mind Rugby League as a sport but unfortunately it won't be very popular in future generations, there's just too much contact and hard hits. Newcastle is also MUCH larger than Geelong in terms of population; about 3 times the size.
Pure shade being thrown on the Newcastle Jets by omitting them. :)
Canberrans don't count GWS as Canberran.
Newcastle is pretty much the same size as Canberra, but Canberra has the fans. Get the Giants to play a few games there to build up a fanbase.
Canberra has the largest unrepresented AFL fanbase of any city.
Greater Canberra has four times the population of Darwin.
We have a 40% higher median income than Perth.
Travesty that we weren't included. Happy to help with Canberra info if you ever make another video.
Newcastle is also close enough to Sydney that people can travel there on game day. And it doesn't have a cricket ground that is high enough capacity to support an AFL team.
They're about to do a big revamp of the area surrounding McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, making it an 'entertainment precinct'. I think it's madness that those plans don't include plans for a boutique oval stadium similar to GWS's Sydney Showground to give the city a realistic tilt at an AFL or Big Bash team. Missed opportunity. @@glurgbarble7268
Well said. Canberrans absolutely do not consider the Giants to be their team. There's zero link between Western Sydney and the Capital besides the highway.
There are also far more footy followers in Canberra than there are in, say, Newcastle. We have a long history of the game in Canberra with long established clubs like Eastlake and Ainslie.
We have the interest in footy, we have the disposable income, we have the population growth, we have the AIS, we're right here on the east coast and we're the nation's capital.
Genuine question, would Canberrans welcome a relocated team like North/Saints?
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
You left out a strong option, which is a standalone Canberra team.
A team in Canberra would free up four GWS games a season, which could be played in Newcastle. So in the short- to medium-term, Newcastle is covered.
Canberra is traditionally a rugby and NRL town, but the nature of Parliament, the defence force, and the public service means there will always be a strong contingent of residents from the southern states.
It has over 500,000 people, more than the population as Tasmania, concentrated in one metro area.
A team there could potentially secure additional members by playing some of its games in Albury-Wodonga.
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
Canberra was traditionally actually more of an AFL town. Although league and union were also played there, it wasn’t until the Raiders and the Brumbies joined that AFL fell behind whilst the other two shot up
@@trainco1643 that's right. But I think we should get Sydney and GWS working the city of Canberra better. Then see if its worth having a club knowing that you can't keep having unsustainable sides being propped up by 5 clubs.
@@BDub2024 very few in Canberra is interested in GWS, just the hardcore AFL fans. We'd rather support womens sport than an AFL side that we already subsidise that carries GWS as its name. I'm not supporting any AFL team until we get one in Canberra.
@@JustinWatson23 GWS is ridiculous. West Sydney Giants is far more sense and connects Western sydney suburbs to the team more than GWS ever will. Giants Western Sydney. I still think the acronym means nothing. Only planners use the term greater. I'm happy for Canberra to be added to the name. Get more games into Canberra and if the fans turn up enforce then the AFL will act for sure. But in the meantime, Giants is just propped up and you can't have half the teams in the comp being propped up by Eagles, Crows Collingwood and Essendon.
I’ll make a club, call it team Gary, win a premiership or 3 because it’s named after me. Do this until a 20th eventually team comes into the comp, pull out to make it fair for the rest of the teams
Pls do
The goats?
you can only field Gary’s though
@@leopoldstotch7711 I’ll find a way to clone myself, 17 of me and Gary Rohan, unstoppable team.
Gary FC could be sponsored by Gary's Shoes. Yep, the employer of Al Bundy. Perfect fit.
Calling Norwood an irrelevant team screams of vicbias. They are the second biggest team in sanfl. Port Norwood is a pies blues rivalry level. Although NT or Canberra should be first, a third SA team makes perfect sense.
True, but, haven’t most Norwood supporters just converted to Adelaide supporters?
@@user-uw8ru7eq5c Yes. There are some stalwarts in their fanbase but generally speaking the majority support the crows. Mainly because Norwood were one of the main clubs that pushed for the crows to be formed as they didn't wanna see Port Adelaide join the national comp.
Eagles have 100000 members, how can SA get another team over WA?
Who would support the crows then?
Apart from some old stalwarts how many Crows fan would convert to Norwood? Adelaides been in the competition for over 30 years now, for people under 40 do they have much attachement to Norwood, they have grown up as Crows fans.
Newcastle would be a joke.
Canberra has to be the next team up. If they want a new team in SA or WA, add two new for each state, and then Canberra makes a 24 team comp.
I really think Canberra should be preferenced first
Canberra should come in first. But Newcastle should be on the AFL’s radar for the future
The afl would push for a Norwood team imo as they are established, Adelaide has showed their passion for footy and the stadium is there.
However none of these options are great yet. We need more time
Norwood is the obvious and probably best choice. However the AFL shouldn’t make the same mistake as they did with Port and force them to abandon their identity
I’m a Norwood member and I would abandon my AFL club if Norwood entered. I’ve been a Norwood member since 1987, plenty I’ve talked to feel the same. There’s only so many colours, keep the Red and Blue and have a clash jumper.
Me too. Not only are there plenty of us, there are many disillusioned Crows fans who could be "converted" to a "real" club that is not Port.
Add current only Norwood fans, Norwood fans who follow Port in AFL (there are actually a good number), plus new fans .. could get 20k plus to games to start.
Norwood WANT it. They couldn't do much worse than a combined 3 flags in 61 combined seasons for Crows and Port thus far!!! 😮😅
Norwood would be a perfect fit.
The Crows were a soulless,contrived mishmash born out of an acrimonious period at the birth of the AFL.
The Port-Norwood rivalry would be a sensation on the national stage.
If Norwood gets accepted (they won't), they might as well bring in Sturt, North Adelaide and the rest of the SANFL teams as well.
The fact that we cannot bring all these teams into the AFL is why the Crows exist in the first place. They represent all the other teams in the SANFL. Norwood is already represented by the Crows.
Port got an AFL licence because they won the most premierships and were the most powerful team in the SANFL, they rightfully earned their AFL license.
The bottom line is that Adelaide cannot support another team; Port and Crows can't even sell out Adelaide Oval.
Andrew Dillion has already hinted that (while he respects the history of the club) Norwood will NOT get an AFL licence.
@@rhysh2639
Port got the licence by playing Judas on the SANFL....I recall this period intimately. Norwood were offered a licence in a clandestine manner but out of respect for SANFL process passed it up,a grave error with hindsight. Port had greater differentiation from Crows thus nabbed the second licence,it was nothing to do with their history.
The entry of Tassie has changed the whole AFL dynamic. The door is now open for expansion and smaller teams with WA3 and SA3,Canberra or NT.
The Crows were essentially a Glenelg construct at inception. Norwood would rapidly pull their supporter base back from the Crows and the city would be neatly divided into 1/3's. Support would be drawn from 450,000 for the 3 teams,a competitive number given we are Aussie rules state.
WA3 will be strong competition given their greater population however this of higher migrant base proportionally. If WA3 do get the nod next then SA3 with Norwood will follow logically. This is a new era of AFL expansion,fascinating times.
@@timdixo It all sounds good in theory, but unfortunately Adelaide cannot support 3 teams and neither can Perth.
Crows and Port can't even sell out Adelaide Oval.
Port Adelaide were in dire straits back in the early 2010s and resorted to covering half the stadium in tarps to try and obscure the poor attendance. Imagine if a Norwood team was in the same position as Port were, they would be much worse off and would be in danger of folding.
Plus the AFL wants to grow the game and expand the talent pool, putting another team in an area that's already AFL heartland does not do that.
The AFL were even hesitant to put a team in Tasmania, because it is already an AFL dominant area despite not having a local team.
Putting teams in areas like Canberra or NT will attract more young kids to play the sport. A Northern Australian team that plays in both Darwin and Cairns would be a reasonable option for a team (since the NT population is too low).
Don't get me wrong, I think Norwood would be great to have in the league (if it was possible) but they just wouldn't be sustainable. Adelaide is just too small of a city for 3 teams. A population of 1.4 million just doesn't cut it.
Canberra is probaly the best location.
400k people in canberra plus an additinal 100,000 living within 2 hours.
Could serve as a southen NSW team the Rverina, also south east nsw batemens bay and the coast.
This doesnt dilute the SA, WA, or queensland teams.
NT just doesnt have the infrastructure, population, or wealth for a team.
no this is all wrong we need the Broome Brooms
Sweeping through finals
Cleaning up the competition without a doubt. Best janitors in the business
Make a NZ team I reckon, would be cool to have it expand into NZ
They need to play 5 games a year there first. Only happen when AFL and cricket get a proper stadium in Auckland.
@bwood2462 we have a league in Christchurch so maybe they could go hagley oval or in Wellington at their stadium as it's an oval shape
@@iankinnell5643 maybe they could use the same stadium Wellington Phoenix plays at?
@@GeorgeHussla that's the one in Wellington I was thinking of as they have played the odd AFL game there before
WELLINGTON AFL LESH GO
Yeah Bunbury in WA I think would be the best option, it’s about the same distance from Perth as Geelong is from Melbourne, it’s the highest populated country town in WA at 46,000 but you’d likely see people from the entire southwest jumping on that team and they already have a super competitive league in the south west that in recent times has generated heaps of AFL stars
Bunbury is the biggest shithole. Busso or Margs would garner support from the whole South West and would also capture a percentage of West Coast supporters as their second team.
Joondalup would be more realistic because they would also use Optus until a potential renovation at Joondalup Arena.
@@craigslater8227 yeah but like where they gonna have the facilities in busso
@@ajexxan3415 Same with Bunbury. It will take a decade. That's why Joondalup is more realistic
@@craigslater8227 I’m in Dunsy so don’t get me wrong I would love it to be in busso or margs but yeah I just feel it’s more likely in Bunbury
I don’t know enough about WA to comment on Bunbury itself.
But definitely think the next team has gotta be in WA - whether it’s your suggestion, Joondalup, or elsewhere in the state. WA is already footy state, and its population is rapidly growing. Should easily be able to support 3 teams.
1. Canberra 2. Newcastle 3. Northern QLD (Cairns+Townsville) 4. Darwin 5. any location already in a footy state
Are you fair dinkum nobody in Newcastle would ever go to a game
@@jmull91 I know but at least it will give the AFL some traction in a market they haven’t been able to touch ever
Cairns+Townsville would be interesting, lots of Victorians fled out that way last 5 or so years
@@jmull91except me 😂🙋🏻♂️
Canberra are the obvious option for team 20, how did they not get a mention?
Simply because they're not that obvious. Ditto for all the eastern seaboard. The AFL clubs are not that keen on more composite sides joining the competition. Emotional decisions are not logical, hence why Tasmania are still not settled.
I’d love to see a Northern Aus team, representing Darwin, Cairns and Islands. Great talent up there and Cairns actually has a half decent competition running and some talent from there (Dixon, Bowes). Take advantage of the NRL excluding them from having games there.
Another WA or SA team, or a new Canberra team is probably the most viable though, just for player retention etc.
Pitty it's the wet season in southern states winter
Too much rain
@@vegetarianfoodie9091nah it’s dry season then
Give Canberra the 20th team with a population of 450000 with high standards of living. GWS Canberra games out do their primary home games with the city having a history of Aussie rules.ACT cricket went to upgrade Manuka to may have a BBL licence and play in the sheffield shield so a Canberra bid could piggyback off it’s.
With the odd number of teams, the team who sit out for Gather round play a game in Adelaide( or the host city) in the round before on a Monday and the SA team their played have it gather round game on a Saturday night or Sunday.
Play more games in the NT
Playing an extra game on Monday wouldn't work, who is going to play two games away in Adelaide, just so everybody gets a game in Adelaide. Unless it's port or Crows it's unlikely, and then do you want Port or Crows playing Monday? To then back up for a huge game a few days later in GR
@@74_pelicans someone will have to be left out of GR with 19 teams. let said that the Western Bulldogs missed out, since their played an away game against Port in the round before. I picked Monday because it is close to GR and have 5 days for Port to recover for a Saturday night game and doesn't have travel .
Canberra can also represent the whole Riverina region as well which has a strong football following, maybe play a game or two in Wagga perhaps.
@@ChannelBlainoAbsolutely, it becomes the club of regional centres like Wagga and Goulburn, and also the SE coast region.
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
Canberra?
Norwood would be the no-brainer. Any match involving either the Crows or Port Adelaide at Adelaide oval will be a sell out, as would any match held at Coopers Stadium. I think you gave its capacity as 15,000, it is capable of holding 25,000 and that will probably be lower than the membership. There are no set up cost for the AFL, it's all in place to roar to life. The problem is that interstaters have no idea how popular the SANFL clubs actually are. In 1976 Port Adelaide V Sturt GF they lost count after 66,000 attended. People were sat along the boundary line. Don't underestimate the SANFL, its a strong league and even if not smooth it can handle transition between AFL and the State League quite comfortably. The major hurdle will be the SANFL cut in the deal as it will be lucrative without doubt, many South Ausies are well and truly ready for the Redlegs V Magpies(Power) battle to begin at the highest level once again.
I think you'll find that Norwood would have their foot in the door for the next licence.
Holding 2 of the Gather Round games at Norwood are a big step forward in promoting them further.
An established club that won't require bid handouts to start up.
Financially stable.
Still have a strong following in the SANFL, as witnessed by their huge support during any grand final.
A massive rivalry with Port Adelaide that deserves to be seen nationally.
Norwood is very much an affluent suburb on the eastern side of Adelaide, so well away from Port and the Crows.
Big sponsorship is on the cards with international sponsors like Coopers, Wolff Blass and the legendary Penfolds.
Norwood also have the Crows women's side playing home games at The Parade, which impresses the AFL.
Norwood are heavily involved in their community, particularly the west coast which is crucial to their cause.
Get on it !
One other possibility down the road is a Victorian goldfields team. Footy in Ballarat has been successful as of late and you could split the team between there and Bendigo. Good way to grow the game outside of the major cities. Probs not 20th team but maybe 22ndish in a time the at could start looking at multiple divisions
Bulldogs will be filthy. They’re trying to take the whole of western Victoria cos their fanbase is so tiny still
There are already at least 3 too many teams in Victoria. Really it should be five in Melb and one in Geelong. Going to Vic region is going backwards. No really, its Perth or bust.
@@horacehamilton2191 There won't be another team in Victoria, There needs to be a number of teams merged. If North remains they should be forced to work the multicultural areas of Melbourne. Melb has huge immigration in, but a lot of Melbournites are moving north to Queensland. So the immigrants don't have a clue about AFL. North Melb get all the handouts and freebies to stay afloat but don't pull their weight. North should have been based in the outer suburbs of Melbourne before redeveloping Arden St.
@@horacehamilton2191 North Island Roo/Kiwis in New Zealand. North Queensland Roos. Northern Territory Roos. Canberroos. Bulldogs need to play more into Ballarat and those areas of Victoria to build their supporter base more. North have never properly embraced any of the locations they've tried play home matches in. Remember when they just wanted to be called "Kangaroos" to be the team that Australians would follow. Then they played a few home matches in Sydney without properly embracng it. Sydney Swans ran a boo a roo campaign.
Norwood could still be the redlegs, as a south Aussie port supporter I’d like to see them join but I highly doubt that will ever happen.
just have to invert the colours red/navy so Melbourne don't do a Collingwood
It's on the cards, the Gather Round has given Norwood some real impetus.
My pick
1. Canberra (GWS does not count as Canberra and can draw in big crowds)
2. Southern Perth (Rockingham, Mandurah or Bunbury)
3. Adelaide (Norwood or a Southern Adelaide team near Noarlunga might work)
4. Northern Perth (Joondalup)
5. Bendigo (Would draw crowds from the Hume and Nothern Victoria region)
6. Launceston (only if the Devils are a success)
7. Newcastle (not now but at least in a decades time)
8. Darwin (can’t see it happening)
9. Auckland (only for some games, not a full team)
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
Even Mandurah has the potential to destroy the Dorkers. Rockingham definitely will. Joondalup has less impact on Eagles. Its a real rugby and soccer heartland due to first generation poms and springboks. but has a tradition with West PErth there who has a traditional fanbase. But in another 5 years and they'll mostly be in their 70s
Why not Canberra? GWS use Newcastle as their secondary market
I think GWS should really focus on the western Sydney market first and foremost
Yeah WA, Newcastle and Canberra are my favorite choices, wouldn't want an SA team because the port/crows rivalry is so good.
How about ACT?
Perth is currently 2.2 million. I assume that includes Mandurah. You're probably right about State being 2.8 million. Perth is set to be 3 million within a decade.
Canberra is definitely the obvious choice. Has the facilities, the fan base and is literally the capital.
I'd love a Darwin/NT team but it will cost a lot, same as a NQL team which is also an untapped market.
Another WA or SA team would work but is basically cutting into a market that's already there.
Newcastle would be a great spot in theory, especially with it unlocking the massive market of north coast NSW (something that the NRL team does well), but has the setback of putting a team in a rugby league strong area, competing with an A-League team as well for fans, and doesn't have an AFL sized stadium (McDonald Jones Stadium is great for a rectangle field but not an oval).
The other option, which is definitely the biggest gamble of all, is following rugby league's decision from 30 years ago and taking the game to NZ. The biggest criticism of AFL is that the sport doesn't matter anywhere else, and taking the professional game to another country would bolster its international interest. Although the team itself hasn't had individual success, the Warriors has had a massive impact on rugby league in NZ, and an AFL team could do the same.
It all comes down to how big of a risk the AFL wants to put into the 20th team. They can go big and place the team somewhere which could have big benefit but also fail financially, or secure a safe option that further increases the size of the game.
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
Newcastle will never happen. NZ needs to start having games in an AFL stadium in Auckland. That's years away as cricket can't get their stadium there properly sorted yet.
Good video but surprised it didn't cover Canberra and New Zealand as the most valid ideas. New Zealand offers more growth - and Canberra has a lot of interest in AFL already without a side
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
NZ can't even get 1 game. Perth is the logical. NZ needs to get the stadium for cricket and AFL sorted in Auckland.
Didn't feature Canberra because the Giants are heavily based there but I get the thinking behind it. Just seems the AFL has put in a lot of work getting the Giants a foothold there.
@@TheSportingEyes they’re supposed to be our team until 2032… who knows what happens next
@@BDub2024play games at the Cake tin or the Basin reserve
If WA gets a new team, it'd really even out the travel demands on the WA teams with one less away game for the WA teams and extra travel for the Vic clubs - and getting an 8:10 WA time game every now and then would be amazing for atmosphere n attendance
Wot about New Zealand ???
Wowee
Why? Pisses me off when they bring international teams into competitions. Raptors, Breakers etc. Make your own league. Goal isn't to make the league international. Leave it with a 20th AUSTRALIAN team and stop fucking expanding
@@mitchhansen8132as much as I'd love to see a team in Wellington, you probably hit the nail on the head. My only experience with AFL is from my Aussie Mates or playing it a little bit in PE
Canberra (although I do wish it would be NT) surely has to be next, by far the biggest market that is still fully just untouched. Most people from Canberra just really dont go for the giants, and the support would absolutely be there for a standalone team
An investment into Manuka or the Honey pot
would be fantastic
I mean Newcastle also have the jets in the a-league but I don’t think that would much of a difference to an afl team
Jets won't be around next season unfortunately
@@Backwardseel sorry I don’t keep up with the a-league much, what’s happening to them?
@SKIPPAFC haven't had an owner for 4 years and being propped up by 4 other a league clubs, the APL have advised they can no longer do that so unless the administrators can find an owner there will no longer be the side from Newcastle
As someone who has previously been heavily involved with AFL in Newcastle( since 1978) , I nearly choked on my coffee when I saw this. The AFL is at best a part time game in Newcastle /Central coast area. It has no AFL standard grounds, no finances and no substantial team sponsorships ( one club gives it player of the day a free subway each week).Many years ago the then NSWAFL attempted to get a Newcastle team to play in the Sydney competition....it failed . Many years ago there was an AFL standard ground used in Newcastle but it has now been turned into a rugby league ground and the Newcastle Knights use it. Whilst the standard of the game in Newcastle has improved greatly...there are NO AFL STANDARD players locally...you would have to draft the entire team from elsewhere. I think a permanant team in Canberra is much more likely to succeed .
What about a team like Canberra or the ACT? I think the AFL can’t be more than 20 clubs
Absolutely. Canberra makes the most sense. More unrepresented AFL fans than any other city.
A lot of inconsistency with reasoning and some things just plain wrong;
Another Perth or Adelaide team have exactly the same pros and cons, and Perth doesn't have 2.8 million people.
There is also the incorrect conflation of population with market. The Hunter region might have almost 1 million people but it does not have an AFL market of 1 million.
Canberra deserves more discussion. It does already have 4 professional sport teams.
Sunshine Coast/Moreton Bay will have 1 million people soon. They only have a netball team and a new NRL team. If the criteria is population, markets, and growing the game then that should also be a part of the discussion.
WA has 2.8 million. Perth 2.2 million. With growth rate is expected to hit 3 million within 8 years. Perth is a lot more feasible due to the population and the wealth of both existng clubs. It will come down to whether WA football commission accept that a third team will lead to them having more money and more consistent revenue or not. Under the model, both Eagles and Dockers pay considerable dividends to WAFC each year and that runs junior development and the WA footy system. WAFC will only say yes if the arguments stack up. AFL is likely to agree if it means that they don't have to fund any shortfalls in WA footy development.
GWS own Canberra they just have to do it better by Vic clubs and GWS / Sydney playing home and away matches there each year. Straight away that would mean 8 games per year. Then you can look at the sums.
If you watched the Gather Round games at Norwood on the weekend, nobody else would be in front of Norwood for the 20th licence. Coincided with the Norwood Food and Wine Festival which was very well attended. It's a given that SA is the festival state and it outs on the best sporting events that are second to nobody. Population has nothing to do with the decision, it's participation. Norwood are ready now, unlike Tasmania. That is a huge sticking point for other areas where the emotional decision is often overlooking the logical choice.
@@gregrobins5615 If SA is the festival state, then Adelaide is the mullet capital of Australia. Its great that you're patriotic to SA, but the lack of population and the fact that population growth is so slow will stop a third team from happening. I would say that SANFL does have more interest than WAFL. In WA there is little interest in WAFL really. Tassie isn't ready that's true. I'm not convinced about Canberra and definitely not Darwin or N Queensland. But a team in SA just isn't going to happen. Sorry for disappointment. If WAFC want it and push hard for it, then it will squeeze out any team in SA. Question is whether they will want it.
@@gregrobins5615 In the end if WAFC don't want it from PErth then there is no way it will happen. If WAFC lodge a compelling case to the AFL then the AFL may very well listen. As the case would be about how WA footy is best funded. Two teams is a risk if both teams are doing badly. So time will tell.
There is no need for a 20th team. A more likely solution would be to get rid of one of the Victorian teams.
What a good idea!
Now we are on the right track
I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but what Victorian team would agree to this?
Even north, with all its poor on field results and low membership base has been adamant in refusing suggested mergers and/or interstate moves for the last 30+ years.
I hear what you are saying but it's not their call. The AFL should grow a pair and make some tough calls and not keep propping up those entities.
St kilda is the logical choice, absolute money pit constantly in debt, and have more spoons then anyone by a country mile and only 1 more flag then gws freo and the suns.
Sheedy is the only smart guy left in the game when it comes to expanding the code. Newcastle and Canberra is where the game needs to go. These were both AFL strongholds many decades ago, but the AFL didn’t give them any respect and the code languished until it died. Though to be fair Canberra still has a lot of footy fans but no team to support, even though the Raiders have been there for 40+ years taking all the focus. More teams in NSW is how the game gains traction. More teams means more coverage on TV, radio and newspapers, more awareness and more free to air televised games. The road to success will be long but the payoff will be enormous. A truly national competition vs a QLD/NSW state league.
'Stronghold?' Canberra maybe. Newcastle, never.
A permanent team in Canberra would be best. GWS only play there when their home ground in unavailable because of the Sydney Royal Easter Show. They could easily play at the SCG for those 2-3 matches, or even schedule a bye for them in that period.
the quickest way to even up the comp after tassi come in is to drop a team and keep it 18 teams. i dont think the people have the stomach for that. so in pushing for a 20th team probably a WA team. a lot of people are thinking the red legs in Adelaide but there is an option. sturt and Norwood proposed a merger nearly 30 years ago i think. maybe follow that throw have an east Adelaide team that takes in mt barker and you could have an 20th team in Adelaide
I'm just sick of league expansion. Cap it at 20 and leave it the fuck alone forever
Canberra should be the 20th team
The West Australian football commission who own both WA AFL licences have already had a consortium approch them about a joint bid and financial backing for a 3rd AFL team based in Perth
But who will follow a third WA side, expatriate South Africans ? The AFL clubs aren't in favour of more composite sides, particularly that WA have 2 already. The big one to add is travel.
Canberra is most logical option they already have a ground it'll just need to be upgraded
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
The honey pot 🍯 would be a fantastic location for an upgrade as the bones need to be brought into the 21st century
Team based in NT and Northern QLD. The Northern Magic (Pale Peach and Dark Brown
Bros pronunciation of Mandurah
South West WA would be better than another metro team. Fly in and out of Busselton and get a big buy in from an area that loves tourism and footy. A trip to the Margaret River wine region whilst watching your team play and a state govt with a good surplus to help build a venue.
Perth to Bunbury is 1 hour 50 minutes by car. By train almost 3 hours as its indirect. Not enough population. Cost too high. Long term there is a benefit as Busselton and Margaret River/Dunsborough region will have massive growth. Mandurah is probably a better option as its closer to Perth to capture more people. People still could drive up from Bunbury for approx 1 hour trip. Unfortunately, no train goes near Mandurah from Bunbury. Could still be South West Peel. Mandurah does seem a sleep town doesn't it, so I'm not convinced. Imagine the Vic clubs whinging about having to fly to Perth and then to Bunbury. I guess they could private jet to Busselton and then bus to Bunbury. Any club would never go to Busselton. Mandurah or bust... highly unlikely Bunbury.
If Norwood join think all port fans would drop the showdown and go back to the heated Port V Norwood Rivalry
Yep, their rivalry deserves to be seen on the national scene.
Outside the square there could be a team in the Swan Valley with large expansion in Ellenbrook and other suburbs. Plenty of footy fans out there. But would they shift teams is the question. They don't exactly have a footy heritage when you go deep into the new suburbs.
New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are the only international markets AFL could possibly gain a foothold. Auckland should be the next club, even if it takes 30 years, like the Sydney Swans, they'd gain a foothold eventually.
I would want to see wellington get the team as there is quite a few Aussies that live in the wellington region
@@jackfield8682I think an important point as A New Zealander is the cultural differences within our country. A team in Wellington would work as it's more of a creative and diverse city, while in Christchurch or Auckland is a lot more homogeneous, and is a lot of rugby competition. Wellington has managed to support an A-league team after multiple failed expansions in Auckland
@@hamdog9703 that would definitely help the case and also sky stadium can accommodate a team with 30,00-40,00 people watching and there is less competition for getting people to games as there would be another 2 pro teams (Wellington saints and hurricanes) that play in the city at the same time
India and the West Indies? Both countries are cricket nations, and Australian Rules was created to keep cricketers fit in the off season.
If we do get to 20 teams it might be the right time to adopt a two division set up ...Either two lots of 10 teams 0r a premier 12 team comp . 22 games again with each team playing all other 11 clubs twice and an 8 team second division with three rounds so 21 games Maybe home and away for 7 rounds x2 and interspersed with the other seven meetings at a neutral location such as regional places to foster the game as well there ,, ..The Grand Finalists in the second division go up the next year and the bottom two in the premier level fall back .. Cheers....
I am hope for the 20th licence to be Canberra. Downsides is when we over looked in b grade sport in Australia. Basketball and soccer I don't hold much hope for the IT sector to invest in an AFL club. But Canberra have expat from Melbourne,Adelaide and Perth. Build the stadium in Woden where the tram will go to in 5 years, fingercrossed
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
@@BDub2024 the giants should drop western out of the name. Making the media supports say Sydney to associate to the location more. Carn Greater Sydney
Given we haven't had the big boy clubs and still average more than Sydney including the derby game. I think we would average 10k. But would need a 25k seat stadium, Manuka could be redeveloped for 20k if cricket Australia worked together.
Understand the demo of Canberra, we are half million in the region. That has more disposal income than other part of Australia. We have a booming IT sector and related sector that will draw corporate dollars. We have a large south state population who follow there teams, before the NRL it was a 50/50 town. Case in point Ainslie was and still is one of the richest AFL clubs in operation. We have both the money and population to service all 4 codes (give us the a league team as promised)
While we have the giants, we understand we are paying for them, we would rather have our own. As such the giants are still people's second team.
I am sure playing other clubs in Canberra will draw 10k, those Melbourne clubs are still better playing in Melbourne and need to service there support base. (There is a conversation to reduce the Melbourne club but given the scars of Fitzroy they don't want to have a real conversation about that, and play clubs out of second location in gest)
Canberra deserves its own team
Nothing wrong with the honey pot 🍯, a train to manuka would be perfect
@@vegetarianfoodie9091 what's a honeypot? isn't the bee hive in wellington nz.
Personally it should be Canberra, Newcastle, WA, Cairns or Davenport/Laucestern based team in northern Tassy, and then NT
Joondalup and neighbouring suburbs has a huge number of people of English and South African birth. Then Wanneroo has a lot of New Zealanders. So in the precinct its fair to say there is a lot of soccer and rugby union fans. Having said that the northern suburbs is a typical footy loving, beach loving area. Mandurah is a sleepy holiday town 70km from Perth. Very fast growing. They love their footy, but it has a holiday mentality. I'm not convinced they're passionate enough to back a team and then travel to Perth to watch them play at home. There won't be a stadium of adequate size built in Mandurah. Certainly their local WAFL team has very low support despite being there for 25 years.
Well said, for expansion reasons Newcastle makes the most economical sense and is the second biggest city in NSW, which is continuing to grow to a bigger population as people look to escape the higher house prices of Sydney. But just like GWS when they first started, it's very much is NRL heartland and as everyone can see at any gws home game, they still have a way to go to maintain decent crowd numbers.
How does Newcastle make more sense than Canberra? Similar sizes, but Canberrans are wealthier and already have a decent AFL following. Get the Giants to play a couple of games a year in Newcastle to grow AFL support there before they get a team.
Newcastle doesn't make economical sense. The amount of money that would be needed (and lost) building a stadium, training facilities and attempting to grow local interest all for it to inevitably fail isn't a good economical decision.
Lads came down! 😆.. its just a speculative video.. And Canberra wasn't even brought up in the of the four options mentioned, but agree that should also be looked at..
Realistically Tassie should have been given a team before gws or suns due it's closer ties to AFL, but unfortunately as we all know its all to do with growing the game in locations with higher population and investment for more $$$
Newcastle will never get an AFL team in this lifetime. Nobody cares about it there. Would make Giants home crowds look big.
Perth is clearly the most economical. Newcastle is ridiculous by Sheedy. Anywhere in NSW or Canberra doesn't stack up and is a massive drain.
Mate good video. But the NRL has a uneven number their system works well.
Bring in 3 division comp. Including state league teams with relegation & promotion based on wins. All divisions have 10 or 12 teams. Every team plays each other twice in a year. This would also make a more equitable national comp.
I think if there is a 20th team, it most likely be in the NT or ACT?
Mandurah could utilise fans in Bunbury (1 hour away) and Busselton (90 minutes away). Fans though would have to drive or bus to any game in Mandurah.
The way he said 'Joondaloop' instead of 'Joondalup' makes me laugh ;)
I wonder if you could do Mandurah at the far outer suburb of Perth. 80km from CBD. They could also service the South West and be called the South West Thunder (using Peel's nickname). They would also play in Bunbury. It would hurt Fremantle's support though.
Ballarat is probably a good option. I would call it the Ballarat Buffalo's
Other parts of Australia are still unrepresented. Cocos/Keeling Islands. Australian Antarctic Territory. That bit where the refugee boats get stuck, Ashmore reef. Yeah, none of you gave them a second thought.
I really think Canberra's 470k population is in a great area for investment, the broader area capital region is much bigger
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
@@BDub2024 This is a bigger question of the fairness of the home and away concepts. It needs a revamp. I think it should be equalised on the km travelled each. An away game for a Victorian team against another Victoria is more or less a home game because of the lack of travel. We should be aiming to fix this. Also, GWS, yes, is excellent for CANBERRA but really are needed to penetrate AFL in western Sydney, after the 3 games in Canberra they only have 8 in Sydney, if CANBERRA had their own team this would allow GSW to actually do what they were created for, and that is to be a Parramatta and western suburbs beacon for AFL in Australia’s biggest city.
@@vegetarianfoodie9091 Vic clubs just don't travel much in comparison. I think Vic clubs should be playing home and away matches in regional areas such as Canberra, Darwin and N Qld during the season. Home and away eliminates giving away a home advantage. GWS Syd Bris and Suns should be involved too. But not Perth or Adelaide teams that rely on having 11 games in their home city. Whereas some Vic clubs can play 16 or more games a year in Melbourne.
What's going to happen once the comp is 20 teams? I don't know if we want a bigger competition than 20. To broaden the Australian market then, the Melbourne teams would need to be reduced. A second tier could provide an option to continue the heritage
If Auckland had a proper Cricket Ground with MCG dimensions, and 40k a NZ team would be great. Black, White, and silver Guernseys. Call them the Falcons like the int team. You could have 8 or 9 games in Auckland and 2 or 3 in Wellington a season and have a gather Round in NZ
Cricket is trying to get a proper ground in Auckland that it would share with AFL. This is works in progress currently.
@@BDub2024 Yeah at the old Western Springs stadium. I personally think it should be in South Auckland, I know it is a Rugby League stronghold, but it would make it easier for people from the Waikato to attend games. I'm from Hamilton, and I would like to watch, I don't think Seddon Park would have a big enough oval to have the odd game. But I would love to see Collingwood play in NZ. I always like them cause they have black and white colour, plus I love magpies I think they are funny and cheeky birds. Not a bandwagoner either, I got my first Guernsey in 2007.
@@michaelcampbell8112 Magpies are funny and cheeky until they peck you in the back of the head or worse. A real barrel of laughs.
@@michaelcampbell8112 There needs to be 6 games in NZ each year to see if it works. I don't really understand why games aren't currently being played in Wellington. Surely NZ tourism is doing some sponsorship of the games. But needs games in Auckland too. First let that happen for 15 years. Then of course look at a team.
As a Novocastrian bring up AFL is mostly met with "what gay F L?" but it is getting better slowly. The AFL playing games in Canberra manuka oval and Bendjo mars stadium makes me think thats where they are looking...testing the waters building a fans like they did in tasmania for years before making a team.
I think if the Giants or Swans, Even the ladies played a few games up there now and again to get some interest into it. I mean when looking at the NRL, how hard have they invested expanding into rival codes?
@@savageduck4487 AFL may have had friendly matches or pre season games in newy but not regular season like @TAS,Benjo or ACT. It doesn't make tactile sense to play away from you fan base so it must make financial sense. The AFL must pays them to play in place like ACT. So they must have a plan for that region.
That all i am trying to say. I just can't see the AFL paying the roo's to play in the ACT for the few 1000's north Melbourne fans living in Canberra.
Its no chance of happening. Canberra Country NSW is more likely. But GWS can do it better if they play home and away matches there. Its simple really. Clubs like Saints play GWS both home and away in Canberra. So, the effect of playing there is neutralised for the clubs. IF GWS play Melb Saint and Hawks home and away there, then its 6 games in Canberra straight off. If same clubs do it every year then it will really build support.
@@TetherT this is true. It would be the long game to get it going. Canberra from my opinion going there as an outsider is an anomaly of people. It is full of people from all over the country. Though there are local born people there are just heaps of others from the other states of which end up moving out. Newcastle is interesting in regards they do have a competition, so does Wagga. Maybe Newcastle in the next few decades become the next, next team and or one of the vic teams drop. Will the Australian population be enough to have a full second division to enable relegation and promotions like the premier league? Another question for another day. Another problem to debate about
U forgot Canberra to btw plus it wouldn’t be the worst idea to send north Melbourne up to the NT as a team already established fanbase and money they get low crowds anyway so that isn’t a big deal so stadium build won’t be a problem plus they can have half their home games at marvel to compensate the fans Down in Victoria if not we’ll send the Gold Coast suns as they are pretty much undefeated up there in Alice Springs
North's "low crowds" would still be bigger than what a NT side would get, and playing home games split on two ends of the country is not a good idea whatsoever.
Gold Coast is a huge emerging market, the whole of SEQ is an emerging market for footy... no reason to move the club now.
Send st kilda, they have that much debt it’s not funny, and don’t have a very good history either. Dog shit club.
GWS should have been called West Sydney Canberra. I guess its too late now. I reckon if you gave Canberra 11 games a year what crowds would they actually get? How about sponsorship and corporate support that is so critical. Only benefit is to stop NRL and to have more of a presence in regional NSW. My advice is that clubs like St Kilda Bulldogs Melbourne should be playing Giants there both HOME and AWAY. That would immediately give GWS 6 matches in Canberra each year. Sydney could also join in and play Hawks home and away in Canberra. If clubs like Melb and Bulldogs get to play their enough times, including preseason and train, then they will be competitive in Canberra and any advantage to GWS is nullified.
The 20th side has to be Canberra, they have the population and the people there will support any code.
Make the colours Bright Green, Royal Blue & Gold.
GWS need to focus solely on Western Sydney, because I feel that them playing games in Canberra is counter-productive to their growth in the Western Sydney region.
Plus, people in Canberra deserve their own full-time team.
As for the Northern Territory, there would need to be a "Northern Australia" team. Have them based in Cairns for one half of the season, then move them to Darwin for the second half. One game per year in Alice Springs. That is the only way a NT team would work.
A Newcastle/Central Coast team should come after that, to even it out after the Northern Australian team.
Then cap it at 22 teams.
Expand to 20 first, then wait maybe 10 or 20 years for the next 2 teams.
WA does not need another team and neither do SA.
Did you watch the Gather Round on the weekend, Norwood is firming by the minute ?
@@gregrobins5615 It won't happen, there is nothing to be gained by putting another team in SA, especially when the Adelaide AFL teams have struggled in recent years.
The AFL want to grow the game and attract new fans, SA is already a footy-mad state. Most people there already support either the Crows or Port.
Andrew Dillon basically hinted that he doesn't think a Norwood side is "sustainable".
@@rhysh2639 If you watched the channel 7 report shown in SA and Victoria, Dillon was very positive about Norwood. The AFL clubs are not in favour of more composite sides joining the AFL. Norwood are ready now as witnessed by the Gather Round support. It's not based on population, but participation. The AFL are well aware of Norwood and their strong community work, strong supporter base, success, rivalry with Port and the fact that Norwood helped out the Crows AFLW side. The AFL aren't necessarily looking at new markets but going back to looking at the best established club outside the AFL.
Southwest WA - Bunbury.
Joondalup Falcons, you guys have Freo and they're still nothing compared to Eagles, no point getting another Southern team to steal Fremantles already small fanbase.
@@jackhudson2237nah- as far as afl clubs go, freo have a relatively large fanbase and at that, the south west region of wa is far enough out of perth that both sides are equally supported. As someone living very close to Joondalup, it’s not viewed as its own city- it’s just an urban centre in perth, a city that doesn’t rlly have the population for 3 teams. Having a south-west team would be much more viable for the new club
@jackhudson2237
Hey? The South West doesn't support Freo because it's marginally closer than Perth.
Most of us support West Coast. Then Freo. Then the rest of the teams in the league.
Location doesn't have anything to do with our support.
How many people down there are willing to pay for a membership for this Bunbury team? Ask yourself that. Because another failed franchise is the last thing the AFL needs. I already know the answer to this question because the closest team in the WAFL to Bunbury is Peel, nobody likes Peel.
Bunbury is an absolute shithole. Joondalup makes sense
The only real answer is Canberra tbh, it doesn't have the issues that would plague it like a 3rd WA team (long distance and just not enough population to make it worth diluting the support of the other WA teams), canberra while about split in terms of AFL and rugby, but the Canberra team can capitalise in the high afl support on cities like Wagga and can hold some games at Wagga, as well as growing the game to some cities to the east
What are talking about? Eagles have 100,000 members in a 60k seat stadium. I'd say a 3rd team in a football state is a wiser choice than a tiny town in nsw that supports rugby.
@@jackhudson2237 canberra is very much a 50/50 split on afl and nrl, hence why its a very good idea to spread there, to win over more fans, also wagga wagga is an afl town, a 3rd WA team wouldnt bring in more fans to the afl, it would just be eating at the west coasts fanbase, who already dont really sell out optus stadium that often, and have only had an average home crowd above 50k twice in 2018 and 2019
@@jackhudson2237 What percentage of Perth do you realistically think a third team would capture? It's not like a third of Perth is going to jump ship.
Freo is pretty much half the size of West Coast. I expect WA3 to struggle to reach half the size of Freo. So that equals 1/7th of Perth for WA3.
Let's be really generous and say they'll capture 1/5 of Perth. That's 460k. There's 560k within an hour of Manuka.
So both markets aren't too dissimilar in size, but Canberra actually adds to the fanbase.
Just bring Optus up to 70k as it was designed to do and make two behemoth clubs in Perth.
@@padstah3747 are you seriously suggesting another team to try and steal more rugby fans? We already bought in Suns and Giants to do that and look how that turned out. They are both tiny clubs that have no fans, even North Melbourne dwarfs those 2 clubs, and you want a Canberra team that will also struggle to get fans?
@canberrapear7219 yeah great point bringing up the Eagles attendance while their form has been worse than Fitzroy. Are we just going to forget that they've been getting over 100,000 members since 2019 despite finishing last? You can pretend that a Canberra team will be more successful than a WA club based in joondalup, which already has loyal fans all you want. Another failed club over East isn't happening again because the AFL can't continue to keep subsidising QLD and NSW clubs. WA and SA are where the AFL will continue to expand the game now.
As someone from Newcastle, I’d love to see our city represented in a real national competition. But I feel that there is another couple locations deserving of a club first.
There are plans to build a cricket stadium (around the size of GIANTS Stadium) next to McDonald Jones Stadium as apart of a sports precinct project the city is investing in. But politics in Newcastle is slow since the state government puts all our taxpayer money into Sydney.
As much as I hate to say it, our town is definitely the least interested into the great game of Australian Football. This town is heavily built on Rugby League and has its roots in Soccer as well. However over the years, more people have started giving AFL a chance. Whilst it’s not gonna take over League anytime soon, it’s certainly on the rise in our region.
Another point that wasn’t mentioned in the video about Newcastle was the amount of talent that the Newcastle AFL Club Academy would bring to the game. The Hunter/New England/North Coast region is the biggest untapped market of young talent in the game. It’s currently in the hands of the Swans Academy, but they only focus on Inner-Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle as opposed to the whole region.
Whilst I certainly think Newcastle SHOULD be introduced into the AFL at some stage. There are other locations the AFL should expand to in order to fill the gap for Team 20. In the meantime, the AFL should invest more into developing the game in our region and converting the traditional Leaguies and Soccer followers to the Australian game.
(Sorry for the long comment. I feel inclined to say something as someone from Newcastle myself 😅)
The complex at McDonald Jones stadium was ORIGINALLY planned as a two ground complex in an attempt to get the Commonwealth games in Newcastle . Of course only 1 stadium was built ( much later on they added the hockey ground and the race track). AFL used to be played at the McDonald Jones ground back in the 1970's but then Newcastle got a team in the NRL and the ground was converted to a dedicated league ground and AFL moved to Newcastle No1 Sports Ground.....a ground far too small for AFL with no real room for expansion . The AFL could possibly build a stadium at Hawkins oval/Passmore oval area but it would be a complete build from the ground up....and Newcastle council WONT put up money and probably neither would NSW state government, and I cant see the AFL paying for it all.
Keep to 18 teams,… just move North Melbourne to Canberra
As someone from North Perth I can tell you a third team will not work here. Eagles already have a tight grip on this place and our WAFL teams are terrible (Perth Demons, Swan Districts). WAFL attendance is pretty woeful and has been for a while. Newcastle seems like the best option to me.
By the way people around here pronounce Mandurah more like "Man-drah" (kind of like Canberra). You almost got Joondalup right except the U is more like an "uh" instead of "oo".
I wouldnt have known either,ive heard of Mandurah but Joondalup is a bit unknown
A third WA team is definitely a better option than a Newcastle side, but still a third WA team isn't the best option for expansion.
I'd support the Falcons if they joined the league, I can't even get a seat to watch the Eagles lose by 15 goals every game. This state %100 needs another team north. Can't split Fremantles already small fanbase, Eagles have to be cut down because this is just ludicrous.
I mean Perth demons have been in the mud for the last 25 years but yh wafl attendance is shocking these days even the “bigger” clubs struggle getting 2500 now
West coast are gonna be shit for another 5 years. Their grip will loosen.
Team 20 will likely be a team that surprises many, I think either Western Brisbane, or Sunshine Coast in Queensland with a growing AFL base. a third WA team, or a third NSW team. then there is Canberra, or finally the most surprising and probably the most unlikely of the lot, a team in New Zealand, particularly in or around Auckland.
When we look at the NT, there would be a need to develop an air-conditioned stadium to accommodate for the Darwin weather, which would cost a significant amount of money.
The AFL already made official that an Auckland based New Zealand team would be looked at in the coming decades once an oval stadium was build in Auckland’s cbd for test cricket so it may become more likely once the dilemma is resolved has a significant population to maintain a licence
@@jamesmunn867 Spot on. A lot of what you're saying here is absolutely correct. I think they're looking at grounds arount Mt Smart aren't they? Its a natural amphitheatre and being used for other sports currently. But those sports need to be moved first, then cricket can move. I might have the location name wrong. AFL is getting involved to have something suitable too. Wellington stadium was built with AFL in mind too. But really needs the grounds ready and for a club like North/Hawks/Saints to be having games there consistently.
@bwood2464 they’ve mostly been making oval stadium proposals in Western Springs, Colin Maiden Park and Victoria Park to shift test cricket from Eden Park in the far north which is Rugby shaped into the cbd so the Saints and AFL would likely be keeping a close watch can still host games in Wellington though but Auckland’s bigger population will be their prime focus 🏟️🏏
@@jamesmunn867 I don't think a NZ based team is going to happen for team 20, but I do think it will happen either as team 21 or 22, because AFL going international is inevitable at this point
The most likely for team 20, is a third WA, a Canberra-based team, and a third QLD team. We will find out by the end of this decade who will get the 20th license.
@@jamesmunn867 I was staggered at how the Eden Park development didn't better allow for cricket there. Haven't they heard of temporary stands (for rugby) or stands that can slide in/out when required. Just so it could accommodate a decent sized cricket ground. In the end it would have been far cheaper for govt, as they'll have to invest in a new cricket venue now and help pay for stands etc... Good for AFL in the end I assume if Auckland cricket ever develop a ground for AFL and cricket.
Despite being a mighty hawks fan, i will move to newcastle if we get a team here. We have a big afl community here, despite being nrl strong, with clubs such as newcastle city blues, cardiff hawks, lake macquarie dockers and more. In addition, there are manh places here where stadiums could be potentially built. Suchas the old Cardiff hawks ground near glendale shopping centre being in a similar area like where newcastle knights rugby league are located. But as stated in the video, newcastles government has to fund the stadium before anything. Praying we get the big thumbs up
Edit: nickname ideas
Newcastle leapords
Newcastle thunder
How about Newcastle Steel ….?
So after the West Coast debacle today, is there really anyone in WA who would push for a third licence on their recent performances ?
Come on AFL, just tell us that Norwood are in and everyone can move on !
AFL already prop up 4 clubs in Qld and NSW... now Tassie... then 4 Victorian clubs and Port Adelaide. 10 of the 19 clubs can't sustain themselves and rely on handouts by taxing the wealthier clubs. Or more precisely the AFL giving the bigger clubs a significantly smaller dividend. That's not fair and sooner or later the big clubs members will wake up and see that by being members they help all the other clubs. It doesn't lead to better players or more premierships, because of the hard cap and soft cap... Clubs can keep earning more money but never use the funds. Members will wake up and hold on to their money.
TV rights will pay for it
@@vegetarianfoodie9091 TV rights will pay for a lot of things. An extra match leads to more money. But it also further weakens the product and means that the strongly supported clubs are less likely to be free to air. Also means more trashy matches on Fox often competing with each other on multiple channels.
Imagine a 6 team Melbourne competition.
Melbourne, North Melbourne, South Melbourne, East Melbourne, West Melbourne and Geelong.
That would be kinda funny, to be honest.
2 Things
1. Gather Round wont work with an odd Number of Teams because the whole concept of Gather Round is every team is playing in 1 state and you cant do that with an odd number of teams
2. If the AFL want to go Risky is the AFL could Potentially expand into NZ. the Main logistical issue with that is NZ and WA are 4 hrs apart in the Winter and 5hrs apart in Summer which while AFL is A winter sport when talking about time 3 od 4 weeks of the season are played in the Summer
The Eagles and Dorkers should skip the Gatherround anyway. Its really tough for all the travel that they do and to have another away game and all the extra travel for Gatherround is quite unfair.
Until there are at least 5 AFL games in NZ each season it can't even be a consideration. They've stopped in Wellington which is stupid. Then Auckland cricket and govt can't get their cricket stadium sorted. They are wanting a replacement with AFL involvement too. But there are a few steps away from that occurring. So Auckland needs to be finished and they need games at Auckland and Wellington first.
Why do people want an NZ team? Bring the NBL into the argument if you want but I hate international teams in other competitions
As someone from Newcastle I can attest that hardly anyone cares about AFL here. You'd need to spend 2-300mil on a Stadium that no one will be willing to pay for.
New zealand would be good but the Afl gets no crowd there. WA is dominated by West coast. Maybe SA could get a team. Northen Queensland or Northen Territory are solid options but there is a few logistical issues there. Canberra is also good aswell. It should either be them or NT to solidfy the Afl as a national Comp. Eventually they can look into playing matches overseas where there is interest, like in the US.
Get a team in Mandurah to the south and the south west. Problem is that it could eat into Fremantle support and Mandurah is a sleepy old town where people love boating, fishing and crabbing...
NT won't work
I thought we had agreed on the Crystal Brook Roosters Under 14s?
I reckon the WA team is a great idea but i would also make it more of a “North-West” team, representing NT like how giants do Canberra. Play a few games up there a year but based out of WA.
Gives you the player and supporter base from NT but with the financial stability/viability from northern WA.
PETITION FOR DARWIN DINGOS!
👇
AFL is a niche sport (played not even Australia wide). Player depth is stretched as it is on 40 man rosters x 18 teams.
If anything, kill off a Victorian club to facilitate Tasmania entry. No need for 20th team, Suns and Giants are still cash drains with a small fan base.
Insufficient population in Northern Territory. Plus many fans would still barrack for their existing AFL club instead of supporting a new Darwin team. That would be disastrous as NT would require every citizen to support the team passionately and a lot of people turning up. You can't have a proportion of footy fans not wanting to support the team. A transient population doesn't help the cause either.
I think there needs to be another Victorian team, 10 simply isn't enough
Fitzroy area or the South Melbourne area are a bit under represented
If they want an even number of teams from 2028, just omit Gold Coast from the comp and replace them with the new Tasmanian side. Problem solved.
AFL will definitely want a 20th team at some stage, that is an extra game a week to sell for the next broadcast deal. The talent is there you just need teams in the right places.
Expansion into rugby league strongholds is not a good idea personally. The Giants have been very successful on field, yet fail to draw big crowds. The AFL should stay well clear of Newcastle.
The 20th team should represent northern Australian (Darwin & Cairns), with the odd game in Alice. Think of the home grown talent there. Plus footy is popular so they will bring crowds. Still gets what the AFL wants, teams in rugby league areas, but can also fall back on the NT as an Aussie Rules territory.
I'd also even consider moving the Giants to Canberra on a permanent basis as they always draw big crowds there, and then bring the odd game to western Sydney.
I also think moving a Melbourne team to country Victoria would be a big win. Either the Bulldogs or Kangaroos (probably the Bulldogs as they already play in Ballarat, can still be called the Western Bulldogs).
Unless the AFL wants 21 or 22 teams I don't see a third Perth or Adelaide team working. Will be a hard sell to convert established fans.
A unified Northern team representing, at least for now, the NT, and the northern parts of Queensland. NT plus Queensland's Far North, North, Central, and Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday regions adds up to 1.2 million people, more than double Tasmania's population. Logistically it's challenging, but it definitely expands the AFL's reach. Could play most of their games in Darwin and Cairns, with occasional games in Alice Springs, Mackay, and Townsville.
I think canberra should get a team they have good population and already have manuka oval
Rugby town
@@jackhudson2237Wrong. Multicode town. Less AFL than Victoria, but more AFL than any other city north of the Murray. Canberra would have more unrepresented AFL fans than any other city.
@canberrapear7219 this is a very biased opinion for you. Just curious, how many members do you think this Canberra club would get? Because the AFL needs to bring in clubs that will make money rather than lose it.
@@jackhudson2237 Biased, but informed, as I actually live in Canberra. Every single workplace I've been in has favoured AFL. There are more footy clubs than league clubs. We used to favour AFL even more so before we were neglected.
A Canberra team would probably get around 35-40k members. And we'd be financially viable. We'd likely get $2.85m in local funding, plus Manuka naming and sponsorship rights, so we'd have about a $5m a year headstart over somewhere like Perth.
Plus that fact than Canberrans are wealthy. We have a 41% higher median income than Perth. So you can charge more for memberships, and our broadcast value is greater per capita.
@@jackhudson2237if they cared about losing money they would’ve folded st kilda and north a long time ago.
I think a North Queensland AFL team should be considered as well. With the tropical climate of Darwin, an east coast timezone, 4-5x the population of the Top End and growing with all the Victorians moving up there, plus also being closer to where many Aboriginal players come from, Townsville or Cairns would also satisfy the AFL's mantra of growing the game.
Agreed, if you split australia in half vertically pretty much 0 teams are on the top halve (depending which side the qld teams fall under) and cairns already has a half decent completion
Northern Territory has no chance. Not enough people and they barely get any crowds at their games. A lot of the tickets to games currently would be freebies. How many people would seriously go to 11 matches per year. Furthermore, how many would pay for expensive corporate boxes and seating that actually makes more money for the club and AFL. The whole stadium would basically be general admission and probablyl end up with less than 10,000 paid spectators each match. AFL needs to think. Put 11 matches there in 2025 with some big Victorian clubs. How many fans would they average seriously. It would be around 8000 absolute max.
Maybe Give Geelong a second team . Makes as much sense as some of these lol .
Newcastle is too nrl focused, gws, Brisbane, Gold Coast are bad enough, even the swans are dwarfed by nrl in their own city despite being one of the most recognisable and sizeable sporting teams in australia. Give the team to an area that actually cares about the sport.
What about the Gongs from down Wollongong way?
Newcastle would fail to even draw 5k a game, putting an AFL team there is like putting an NRL side in Geelong 😂
I believe a team there would work, however it has to be a long-term plan. The AFL needs to host premiership matches in the area and work on generating more interest for the game in the Hunter region (as well as the Central Coast).
Yes, it's a rugby league area but unfortunately rugby league is a dying sport, modern parents don't want their kids playing rough contact sports anymore (especially with all the concussion research that has come out recently).
Australian Rules Football has been watered down significantly to make the game more attractive for future generations, you cannot do the same with Rugby League without turning it into "touch footy".
There are even talks of phasing out tacking in the AFL and making it a non-contact sport like basketball or soccer.
I don't mind Rugby League as a sport but unfortunately it won't be very popular in future generations, there's just too much contact and hard hits.
Newcastle is also MUCH larger than Geelong in terms of population; about 3 times the size.
It's inpossible to have an odd number of games with an odd number of teams. Will have to be an even number of games e.g. 22 or 24