View Full Version : Expansion If they bring in a West Sydney team North are Home Free.
Pretty simple really if they bring in a West Sydney team to bring the number of clubs to an even number of 18 we are set.
There is no way the AFL will let it go back to an uneven number of clubs for the relatively small amount of money it costs to keep North afloat.
After they have the Gold coast and West Sydney they have a perfect 18 team comp with no other areas in Australia ready for a team. They want 18 and with North they will have it.
Subprime
11 Dec 2007, 09:30
I agree with this. If anything the expansion into SEQ and WS should help all the clubs in Melbourne currently under threat.
It seems to me there will probably be more TV money to go around and if North, WB and Melbourne can get their finances in order they should be ok. The only concern I can see for these clubs in an expanded comp is they will get less home games against big Victorian clubs.
Its easy enough to find doomsayers in the Sydney Rugby League media about West Sydney's chances of success but it seems to me these are the same people who 'support' the Swans through gritted teeth. Gold Coast is also ready to go and stadium worries aside, most of the elements needed for a successful side are already in place.
TheTimberMerchant#14
11 Dec 2007, 09:33
I think it's more likely that the AFL want a 16 team competition including a Gold Coast and a Western Sydney team.
The AFL's original plan would've been to send the Kangas to the Coast, then send one of the other struggling clubs to Western Sydney.
The AFL has always said that there are too many clubs in Melbourne.... I'm sure they'll come back to the whole relocation thing in a couple of years anyway...
NeXus_Helen
11 Dec 2007, 09:51
Pretty simple really if they bring in a West Sydney team to bring the number of clubs to an even number of 18 we are set.
There is no way the AFL will let it go back to an uneven number of clubs for the relatively small amount of money it costs to keep North afloat.
After they have the Gold coast and West Sydney they have a perfect 18 team comp with no other areas in Australia ready for a team. They want 18 and with North they will have it.
You are deluding yourself!! Once Gold coast and West Sydney come in, if a vic club goes bust the AFL will have no hesitattion in bringing in a new team from either Tassie or Canberra thus making it an 18 team comp again. Just like in 1996 when Fitzroy merged with Brisbane and Port Adelaide came in straight away.
You are deluding yourself!! Once Gold coast and West Sydney come in, if a vic club goes bust the AFL will have no hesitattion in bringing in a new team from either Tassie or Canberra thus making it an 18 team comp again. Just like in 1996 when Fitzroy merged with Brisbane and Port Adelaide came in straight away.
In my opinion the AFL's desire to get rid of some Melbourne teams is as almost as great as it's ideas for expansion. There will be all this talk about a 17th team, and maybe it will happen for a couple of years, but I think the AFL will just strangle North Melbourne financially out of business and extinction. Other clubs and in particular the Melbourne Football Club will be watching what happens to North and think to themselves, shit we don't want this to happen to us, and therefore be much more open to the idea of relocation/merger. We may have a 17th team for a year or 2 but I think the chances for a 16 team comp in the medium term are much higher.