Back when State of Origin was a thing, Vic supporters got behind that. Not to the same extent as Rugby League SOO of course, but it was a reasonable level of support.
Agreed. Don’t the AFL own the club brands?
Or even a University? Nah, those clubs are too far gone. If the comp had any new teams then they’d be established in places like Narre Warren ...
... or even Frankston, Werribee or Port Melbourne. What you’ve described is basically the VFL as it exists today. Most of the the decent AFL players would have gone to the super league enticed by $$$.
And of course Victoria would still have team(s) in the super league - just as they have teams in Rugby and A-League.
I’d imagine the stadiums in Perth, Adelaide, together with Giants, and Metricon would have tight contracts expecting AFL league games to be played there, and were a condition of funding for the stadium construction / renovation.
I think you and I have described exactly the same plan.
The AFL don't own the clubs brands, they own the licences............. that would mean new clubs like Ade for example would have a fight on their hands to breakaway from the current AFL to a super league and keep their "brand". Where as clubs that are vic based wouldn't even bother joining the break away, however big state clubs like South Freo or a Norwood for example may look at it or stay at state level. Again those state leagues I presume would own those clubs licences.
For vic clubs to join this new league there is disincentive to do so, I'd imagine the equity would be sured up better than the current and that would mean more travel. For example would you as a fan be prepared to follow them in another league where you have to travel more? Maybe but the majority I doubt so therefore the clubs won't look at it. That's just one issue by the way.
For this super league to entice the best vic players from home would take more than $$$, it would take a guaranteed stability that it's gonna work. If you're one of the best players in the league and are vic are you gonna chance a league that may go belly up or stay on the good wicket you're on at home?
In a nutshell forget current vic AFL clubs breaking away, there's no upside for them unless the $ overrides all and that would take billions. However for all non vic states there's low hanging fruit as you previously pointed out like fixture, less clubs, equal travel, rotating GF etc.
The super league wouldn't have to duke it out with the AFL re stadiums outside of vic if the AFL essentially went back to being the VFL before it became nationalised. And really on face value that would be the only way this would work, the new "VFL" would essentially be biggest drawer of bums and tv ratings given the population differences and the super league could co exist with it given there'd be enough market outside of vic.