MaddAdam
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Bay 13: Vintage Bay
Podcaster
North Melbourne - North 2012 Player Sponsor
North Melbourne - North 2011 Player Sponsor
North Melbourne - North 2010 Player Sponsor
North Melbourne - North 2009 Player Sponsor
With Melbourne's population growth continuing at breakneck speed - the city is expected to have doubled in size by 2031 to around 10 million people - new teams will be needed to meet that growth.
Much of that population growth will occur on the fringes of the city. Population growth in the centre of the city can expect to be mopped up by the existing clubs (like the E-gate development etc), but if the AFL is serious about growing the game it needs to look at new teams that appeal to the new arrivals.
Given most migrants are coming from India and China, they appear to be the logical choices. Port and Melbourne have made attempts to break those markets, but the time has come for a proper effort.
New teams specifically aimed at the people who are arriving in huge numbers - teams they can identify with, build their own history with, their own teams. Sort of like how Celtic grew in Glasgow.
The Chinese centre of Melbourne is in the Box Hill/Glen Waverley area. It makes sense the team should be based there. And play some home games (four a year perhaps to start with) in Shanghai.
Indian migrants often head to the south eastern expanse suburbs past Pakenham. They should be based there and play at an Indian city. This club should spring from one of the existing Big Bash franchises, say the Stars
The Chinese focused team would be the Dragons and the Indian focused team are the Stars.
Bringing the comp up to 20 then allows for a 10 team conference style set up, east and west.
West
West Coast
Dockers
Crows
Port
Stars
North
Dogs
Essendon
Carlton
Geelong
East
Suns
Lions
Swans
Giants
Dragons
Richmond
St Kilda
Melbourne
Hawthorn
Collingwood
Works well for all and grows the game very well.
Much of that population growth will occur on the fringes of the city. Population growth in the centre of the city can expect to be mopped up by the existing clubs (like the E-gate development etc), but if the AFL is serious about growing the game it needs to look at new teams that appeal to the new arrivals.
Given most migrants are coming from India and China, they appear to be the logical choices. Port and Melbourne have made attempts to break those markets, but the time has come for a proper effort.
New teams specifically aimed at the people who are arriving in huge numbers - teams they can identify with, build their own history with, their own teams. Sort of like how Celtic grew in Glasgow.
The Chinese centre of Melbourne is in the Box Hill/Glen Waverley area. It makes sense the team should be based there. And play some home games (four a year perhaps to start with) in Shanghai.
Indian migrants often head to the south eastern expanse suburbs past Pakenham. They should be based there and play at an Indian city. This club should spring from one of the existing Big Bash franchises, say the Stars
The Chinese focused team would be the Dragons and the Indian focused team are the Stars.
Bringing the comp up to 20 then allows for a 10 team conference style set up, east and west.
West
West Coast
Dockers
Crows
Port
Stars
North
Dogs
Essendon
Carlton
Geelong
East
Suns
Lions
Swans
Giants
Dragons
Richmond
St Kilda
Melbourne
Hawthorn
Collingwood
Works well for all and grows the game very well.