Why can't there be 2 AFL conferences?

Question

One conference in Melbourne

One conference outside Melbourne

They play a season - have playoffs - then one team from each conference plays in the AFL Championship

This would solve concern over non-Melbourne teams

Southern Conference (East and West Division)

1-Hawthorn

2-St Kilda

3-Collingwood

4-Carlton

5-Melbourne

6-Richmond

7-Essendon

8-North Melbourne

Northern Conference (East and West Divisions)

1-West Coast

2-Adelaide

3-Freemantle

4-Geelong

5-Brisbane

6-Sydney

7-Western

8-Port Adelaide

Answer 1

It's an Australian game, not an American game.

The word 'conference' should only refer to meetings.

Answer 2

no way!

that just gives victorian teams domination in finals! The 'northern conference' (which isnt really northern as Geelong, Fremantle and West Coast are SOUTH of Melbourne!) would be travelling and crossing time zones all year when the Victorian teams are at the same venue each week!

Just because it works in America doesnt mean it will work in Australia! There is money in America; the AFL dont have the money, or enough members to gamble such a big move with.

It jsut wont work....I dont even know why we have american trolls coming into this section anyway (obvioulsy not Australian when they call the Western Bullldogs just 'Western'...and 'Freemantle'.)!

Answer 3

First off Livelyblueswimmer, you are off your head as much as this idea,  where do you get off saying Richmond can't look after themselves whether winning or losing, if you haven't noticed we haven't set the world on fire for some time, but for the last 5 years have made a profit, if we were hawthorn or st.kilda we would of been finished by now, hawthorn has a few members i know, but they are dogs, cats, birds, some people have 3-4 memberships, same as the roos, melb and saints, why else do they get low crowds to games.

Richmond have one of the biggest supporter bases in the league, they will never fold or merge, the actually question is ridiculous, do you really think all the non melb clubs would like the flying they would do, while all melb clubs would be treated like collingwood, ahhhh, there's an idea.  How the h**l Geelong fall into the travelling willboury's I'll never know.

Answer 4

This idea is weird, Why would this solve any concern over Non-Melbourne teams, what concerns are you talking about?

Answer 5

Isn't a conference what they have when people get together and discuss something and listen to various speakers?

I don't really get this idea that you have. It looks as though the Northern would become known as the AFL and the Southern would operate as a statewide competition in Victoria. And I don't get this whole East West thing that you have got going on. It just seems like a sure fire way to dissolve the Victorian teams. You might as well just banish them to the overhauled VFL!

Answer 6

Why would you want to call it a 'conference'.

You've been watching too much USA TV.

Answer 7

I am a Yank and I think it is stupid. I did not enjoy the insults directed at me though.

Answer 8

Sorry, that would basically mean Victoria goes back to the VFL and the rest of Australia play each other. And wouldn't Geelong be in the "Southern Conference".

Answer 9

no

Answer 10

Oh the americanisation...it burns!

Answer 11

I like your idea.

The Melbourne based clubs could play all their matches in that city - not much different to how it is now. People in other states wouldn't have to put up with until the final came around.

Then they could alternate where the grand final is played. One year in Vic the next inone of the other states............in fact I love your idea. Why don't you nominate for a position on the AFL board?

Answer 12

Let's get rid of the xenophobic comments and look at this sensibly.

I note that Demetriou's brilliant new teams didn't get a mention.

If we add them in, we get an unbalanced 8 and 10, or 9 and 9. So keep it to 16, which is manageable.

There are too many inner suburban Melbourne teams to be supported by the game structure. I would favor keeping those who can look after themselves and their fans whether winning or losing - Hawks, Saints, Maggies, Blues, Essendon - amalgamate Melbourne and Richmond as the Melbourne Tigers, and North and the Dogs (the roo dogs?), Geelong ? anyway, there's the Victorian 8.

And the other "conference" - a k a the Travelling Men! - would be WC, Adelaide, Freo, Brisbane, Sydney, Port, the GC and the Mt Druitt maulers - or whatever they're called this week.

And then have finals between the top 4 of each group.

Play 21 home and away games between the eights(3x7)and have a challenge round about week 6 or 7, when each team can negotiate to play any other team for a cash prize or a draft pick preference on a neutral ground, so you would get the WC playing Geelong at Telstra in Melbourne or Sydney. This year, sadly, every one else would like to play Essendon!

Your views and reviews invited.

EDIT

Thank you X man, I reckon I could do a better job than half the current board!