Is there enough interest in the AFL.. ?

Question

Another two clubs to be added to the AFL.

Will it make for a long season ?

Answer 1

I have to agree with Amber K

Answer 2

I don't think adding another two clubs is a good idea with a couple of clubs struggling for money (Melbourne, Western Bulldogs) and i would like to see these two teams merge before any additions are made. Also i think that a sixteen team competition is good with a top eight/ bottom eight and hate the idea of it being any other way.

Answer 3

If Australia is anything like the U.S.A. when it comes to fans and football then yes there is enough interest.

Answer 4

Axe some Melbourne clubs.  North melbourne and Richmond look like the two clubs to go

Answer 5

IMO  there is plenty of interest in the AFL, but this alone will not sustain 2 new clubs.

i have seen this league grow from 12 in the vfl, to 14,15 and 16, they do not need any more, we are a country of 21 million, not 280 million like America.

we have clubs such as Melbourne, north melb, the bulldogs, and saints all struggling off field, Brisbane and Sydney get spoon fed by the AFL, why would another in each state of qld/nsw help the game, it is utter madness.

they have to scrap the pre season rubbish and keep 16, then play each other twice to have a fair competition, it is too uneven at present, with certain teams playing almost all their games at the MCG. (well one team)

i don't see why the league can't see this not a level playing field.

Answer 6

yeah i think there is, but i dont think they the AFL needs two new sides

Answer 7

YES  ... cause there is and always will be.

If you looking for a spreadsheet for the game to keep track of season go to http://aaronheath.com/wp/

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

actually, AFL is the most followed sport in Australia. (Take away Football world cup, and the big games between Oz and NZ in Ra Ra, and State of origin), I watch all the codes, but nothing compares to a good match of AFL.. I have also been in the unique position of being envolved in almost all sports in Australia as a career. and unlike Rugby and League AFL is financially viable, some clubs struggle and others do a lot better but never in the history of AFL has the entire game been on the line of being canned, as has been the case in League, Rugby and Soccor (Football)..

Also AFL put the most amount of time and money into youth programs and development, and 84 additional players would not be a problem (If you have ever watched the national draft you would know that there are 100's of potential players that don't make it as there are not enough teams)..

On the flipside of that, another team in QLD, although this would probably work, I do not belive is a good idea..

1\ People north of the Vic border seem to be unable to watch more than one game, they feel that they are either one code or another..(Rednecks)

2\ Although GC is the largest growth city in Oz, they are mainly old people going there to die, or hugely rich people who's idea of a good sport is Croquet or horse racing.. Not the main target of AFL supporters drives.

3\ It takes many many years (I mean more than 20) to gain a real hardcore supportersbase, and I do not think that the People in QLD or SYD are able to follow a team unless they win every game for more than three games..This I find sad..

But I think that the AFL is moving in the right direction, even though I do not think it will work, the theory is sound..

Answer 10

not just not enough interest but also not enough money to go around,when you consider Brisbane and Sydney are both un-financial and couldn't survive without the AFL helping them-how can one expect another club in each state (bris and west syd) to do any better.

Brisbane won 3 flags in a row and are still in the red,the AFL have bittern off more than they can chew in my opinion.

lastly with another 2 clubs it will lower the standard of players because 84 players that would normally be not good enough for the AFL will find they have a career in front of them that cant be good for the overall standard.cheers!

Answer 11

Maybe Andrew is wanting to keep his job alive by being seen to promote the AFL.

If the PR to the supporters and expensive turnstiles stays the way it is, nobody will support new teams.

Don't put the cart before the horse Andy, promote the game first. if the interest is not there for two extra clubs, then listen to the supporters and try something else.

Value for money would be a good start.

Answer 12

ahh man i hate AFL and football even thought i am Australian and live in Australia i think the hole thing should be put off

Answer 13

I had a premonition a few years back, The AFL was to expand its league. It will finally come true.I  think it will work, but they need to get rid of the Pre Season cup comp.That way, each team will play each other twice and make it fair.

Answer 14

Nah - it's sort of like Demtriopuolopoulos meets Hitler ... this is his Operation Barbarosa.  He's h**l bent on this idea and while all his Generals tell him it's dumb and all he'll find is scorched earth, he's going to lay seige to Brisbanegrad.

Let's turn two struggling teams into four and a season that already starts in summer into a year round thing.  All this from a guy who struggled to stay on the field for a quarter let alone a (much shorter) season.  Does that sound smart?

Answer 15

As long as they base the teams in an area where AFL can grow and be established then the interest will be there especially with the right promotion. As for the longer season, i doubt it, it would just mean one extra game a week

Answer 16

The one good thing if they get to 18 teams will be the way they organise the finals.

With 8 competitors, the AFL has a mystical and complicated roster of who plays whom etc following the elimination round.

Can you imagine them trying to fit NINE teams into finals, there will have to be a round robin which will last till the Melbourne Cup.

I still think that Handy Andy will withdraw two Melbourne licences to transfer teams by force to Qld and back'o'Bourke.