The AFL wants 22 teams. Name your next four.

NeutralFan

All Australian
Feb 15, 2015
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Somewhere, Probably
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Realistically the only viable places are the current cities of already existing teams.
It's a stretch already for the next most populated areas in North Queensland and Tasmania to be stable or even want players to play for those teams.
Another Sydney team (maybe Canberra) would be next if the game grows well in NSW.
Probably the most likely next team is another Perth team.

My real answer now is no more new teams please.
 
May 3, 2007
36,001
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Fremantle
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Man City, Valencia, Lazio, Panthers
Realistically the only viable places are the current cities of already existing teams.
It's a stretch already for the next most populated areas in North Queensland and Tasmania to be stable or even want players to play for those teams.
Another Sydney team (maybe Canberra) would be next if the game grows well in NSW.
Probably the most likely next team is another Perth team.

My real answer now is no more new teams please.
A 3rd team in WA and a 3rd team in SA is Possible too. But thats for another thread.

Expanding to NSW could be interesting.

Newcastle has 300,000 people there.

the South coach such as Wollongong should be looked at eventually.
 

NeutralFan

All Australian
Feb 15, 2015
924
1,027
Somewhere, Probably
Other Teams
Boston Celtics, ATP
A 3rd team in WA and a 3rd team in SA is Possible too. But thats for another thread.

Expanding to NSW could be interesting.

Newcastle has 300,000 people there.

the South coach such as Wollongong should be looked at eventually.
There is a big afl following on the border - albury isn't there? That doesn't sound like a bad idea.
 

Best Coaster

Draftee
Jan 20, 2021
2
0
AFL Club
West Coast
WA can support another quality AFL club, financially and in popularity.

Make a combined AFL club from the nine State League teams, excluding WCE and Freo, they are both big enough now not to need any WAFL feeder clubs. The WAFL club should get all players outside the metro area, as well as their traditional metro zones. Based at Perth Stadium.

Tassie should have a team based at Hobart. Throw a 1/4 of the resources given to GWS and GCS and you have a competitive club.

Club 21&22 are hard to find. Not until Sydney can develop a player and fan base to be self sustaining. Maybe 20 years.
 
May 3, 2007
36,001
20,766
Parts Unknown
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Man City, Valencia, Lazio, Panthers
WA can support another quality AFL club, financially and in popularity.

Make a combined AFL club from the nine State League teams, excluding WCE and Freo, they are both big enough now not to need any WAFL feeder clubs. The WAFL club should get all players outside the metro area, as well as their traditional metro zones. Based at Perth Stadium.

Tassie should have a team based at Hobart. Throw a 1/4 of the resources given to GWS and GCS and you have a competitive club.

Club 21&22 are hard to find. Not until Sydney can develop a player and fan base to be self sustaining. Maybe 20 years.
Theres only 9 WAFL clubs. If there is going to be a 3rd WA team in the AFL, the WAFL should expand to 12 teams to have more talent to be fed to the AFL clubs.
 

Best Coaster

Draftee
Jan 20, 2021
2
0
AFL Club
West Coast
Theres only 9 WAFL clubs. If there is going to be a 3rd WA team in the AFL, the WAFL should expand to 12 teams to have more talent to be fed to the AFL clubs.

Not sure how expanding WAFL clubs will mean more quality players. The State is already divided up into WAFL zones. Just creating mor expense.

The WCE are too big now with 100k paid members. Quite a few would go to a new club if it meant they actuallygot to go to a game, especially young people who are essentially locked out now.

a new club could pick up 25,000 new members overnight, 25,000 more if you gave WAFL members a WA AFL team membership and there is a lot of room for corporate sponsors.
 
Last edited:
May 3, 2007
36,001
20,766
Parts Unknown
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Man City, Valencia, Lazio, Panthers
Not sure how expanding WAFL clubs will mean more quality players. The State is already divided up into WAFL zones. Just creating mor expense.

The WCE are too big now with 100k paid members. Quite a few would go to a new club if it meant they actually got to go to a game, especially young people who are essentially locked out now.

a new club could pick up 25,000 new members overnight, 25,000 more if you gave WAFL members a WA AFL team membership and there is a lot of room for corporate sponsors.
Well when The dockers 1st came into the comp, they were given a chance to grow slowly. Struggled for the 1st 10 years too.

layed home games in the WACA ground in Perth where the capacity was only 20,000. Then eventually moved to Subiaco where the capacity was 40-43,000. When west coast consistently made finals from 2002-7, they Always sold out Subiaco oval to the point where Eagles members were on a waiting list for 2-4 years. It came to the point when some ran out of patience and Joined Freo.

If this 3rd WA team came in, As you said, some West coast fans would convert to that team.
 
Mar 24, 2017
5,016
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Blackburn
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
Box Hill Hawks
Not sure how expanding WAFL clubs will mean more quality players. The State is already divided up into WAFL zones. Just creating mor expense.

The WCE are too big now with 100k paid members. Quite a few would go to a new club if it meant they actuallygot to go to a game, especially young people who are essentially locked out now.

a new club could pick up 25,000 new members overnight, 25,000 more if you gave WAFL members a WA AFL team membership and there is a lot of room for corporate sponsors.
If those WC fans who are locked out are so willing to change teams, the why wouldn’t they just change to Freo now?
 
Mar 17, 2009
21,636
17,319
Hobart
AFL Club
Collingwood
Canberra 600k
TAS 500k
FNQ ~400k
NZ 5000k

See no point in 3rd SA/WA. Who's that gonna bring into the game.

WA/Perth has 2 teams for 2mill people.

A WA3 would give more people access to more games. Thus better use of their magnificent new stadium.

Add the chance for more corporate support & better opportunity for local players to get drafted to a home club.
 

Fire

Brownlow Medallist
Mar 12, 2003
11,367
5,957
New York
AFL Club
North Melbourne
WA/Perth has 2 teams for 2mill people.

A WA3 would give more people access to more games. Thus better use of their magnificent new stadium.

Add the chance for more corporate support & better opportunity for local players to get drafted to a home club.

Right so no unique benefits, and it doesn't grow the market.
 
Oct 19, 2011
5,571
7,432
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Brisbane Lions
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Brisbane Heat
ACT
West Melbourne
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North-South Melbourne

North Melbourne moves to Hobart
 
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