No they're havent been, even though it has come close in 1986, 1989 and 1996
As a Fitzroy shareholder I've been saying that for years on these boards.
Without a doubt the fanbase doesn't want mergers, which is why member based clubs haven't merged.
Where have I said that? I'm not arguing that.
You haven't but it is the most relevant factor in this discussion
University still exists. Like Fitzroy, they are now in the VAFA. Last year Fitzroy Football Club played University Blacks for the first time in 105 years at the Brunswick Street Oval. The last time was when both clubs competed against each other in the VFL.
The Sydney Swans have the highest Melbourne based membership and supporter group of any non-Victorian club in the AFL competition. In September 2016, The Age reported that there were more than 12,000 paid up Melbourne based members out of the clubs reported total of 56,000. Tony Morwood, the Victorian manager said 'it comes back to our history. There are generations of families who have stuck to the red and white colours."
Those figures still suggest that most South Melbourne fans are not Sydney fans and most did not continue to follow Sydney
Of course it is highly likely. But it's easy to say that when your club has no chance of merging with another club.
Seems we agree again.