Expansion 20th AFL team location

[TheGhostOfJohnBelushi]

I think far too many people are thinking the wrong way. A team in WA would be about getting more use/revenue out of our massive stadium investment. It would be about attracting tourist dollars as well as more local dollars. Another AFL game in Perth every 2 weeks would mean $$ for the government. You'd attract a healthy portion of attendance from people who just want to go to another game. Attract more families who would find it difficult to get to an Eagles game or Fremantle game (or detest one or the other, so choose not to bother). You'd attract more visitors who can make more of a weekend trip to Perth if they could have access to more than 1 AFL game on a weekend. You'd automatically have SIX derbies. Big clashes that would make WA buzz for the football week. That's a quarter of the season taken care of. More chance of the Big Vic clubs visiting, stirring more interest, and could help draw more to the lower drawing affairs (ie. WA3 plays Collingwood, Fremantle play Gold Coast... weekend trip from visiting fans would see them more likely to hit the FD/GCS game).

A lot of positives that people are neglecting because all they see are "West Coast and Fremantle already have the fan base locked in", "you can't call it Perth", "Should be a WAFL club with heritage", "all the sponsors are tied up".... nup. Wrong way to look at it. We went through this with the stadium build - "Burswood is the wrong spot", "Doesn't need to be bigger than 60k limit, even that's too much", "West Coast want a waiting list, keep the prices up". And guess what? People praise the location, over 50% of the AFL games played at Optus have had 40k or higher attend (including over a year of COVID restrictions), and West Coast STILL have a massive waiting list.

People will be drawn to it. They like shiny new things. We do love a winner, so watch it go gangbusters when it does build towards success.

 

[Purple Suit]

Disagree re not aligning with a WAFL team. I am bias and I admit that but if it is Joondalup it would be mad not being West Perth trading as Joondalup. You would instantly pick up 10-20k members if it was West Perth in my opinion.
They won't align though as the AFL love making up clubs out of thin air everywhere but Victoria. Was ok for their State league clubs to be the AFL but no where else.

There are 5 WAFL sides north of the river, Subiaco, West Perth, East Perth, Perth, Swan Districts. If you pick one, you then exclude the other 4 teams fans who won't want to switch from WC or Freo to support them. Immigrants won't have this issue but it will be a harder sell anyway.

I want Perth as a name but don't allign it to the Perth Demons at all and they are as close as the Perth Wildcats or Scorchers are to the Demons. I think basing them at Joondalup would also be fine, just stick with the Perth name tag. I'd go with the Perth Pelagics.

This is probably the most logical post I have seen so far regarding WA3. Good points made.

The only point I'll disagree on is in bold. You can't guarantee success on field.

No, of course not but the WA market is still has the least availability of tickets and it's only going to get worse in the long term if nothing is done about it. A third team would probably justify adding the extra 10,000 onto Optus too.

 

[Billy ray]

Swan River Serpents
Burswood Bandits

 

[Bevoman]

This is probably the most logical post I have seen so far regarding WA3. Good points made.

The only point I'll disagree on is in bold. You can't guarantee success on field.

Eastern Clubs would not fly to WA multiple times a year.
Heaven forbid if the Pies have to fly interstate a few more times.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

Yet here in the SANFL - Central Districts who were set up in the same circumstances lead to a very passionate fan base who create a unique atmosphere at games.

Wonder what type of unique atmosphere they brought to the table

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I want Perth as a name but don't allign it to the Perth Demons at all and they are as close as the Perth Wildcats or Scorchers are to the Demons. I think basing them at Joondalup would also be fine, just stick with the Perth name tag. I'd go with the Perth Pelagics.

Does North Perth work as a name?

 

[Philth]

Does North Perth work as a name?

Norf Perf. Winner.

 

[Canberra Pear]

If we think Tasmania will get small crowds it is nothing compared to what a Canberra team would get.

Tbh, I expect Canberra to get slightly bigger crowds than Tasmania (capacity allowing). Similar sized market, but all able to get to the one stadium.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Tbh, I expect Canberra to get slightly bigger crowds than Tasmania (capacity allowing). Similar sized market, but all able to get to the one stadium.

But divided on which is the biggest sport in town. Tasmania has no competition from the rugbies.

 

[Canberra Pear]

But divided on which is the biggest sport in town. Tasmania has no competition from the rugbies.

Greater Hobart is about about ~260k, Greater Canberra is ~550k. And Canberra is growing quicker.

Canberra's not an "AFL heartland", but it's still got a strong AFL following. AFL isn't more than twice as popular in Hobart as it is in Canberra. There are already more AFL fans in Canberra than Hobart, more AFL fans able to regularly get to the one stadium.

And just because half a city has a stronger affiliation with another sport doesn't mean they aren't potential fans. I've brought several leaguies (and a union fan) to Giants games and they've loved them. They won't make up a lot, but they'll boost crowds.

I'm incredibly excited for Tasmania, but comparing both teams, I do think Canberra will have better crowds (after the initial buzz).

 

[FlowersByIrene]

Does North Perth work as a name?

Sort of, but I would just go with Perth.

North Perth is its own small suburb two minutes from the city (like South Perth, East Perth and West Perth) so it doesn't really connotate Joondalup.

Here in Perth we refer to that are as 'the North' or 'NOR - North of the River', but that speaks for the majority of the civilized Perth suburbia as well as the far north.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

If we must have a 20th?

Seeing nowhere else stands out... let's do it...

Fitzroy.

Spend a bit of money on a proper training complex

Ready made stadium/s

Ready made supporter base. And growing - Melbourne's population growth is massive. You have to fish where the fish are - Melbourne is Australia's biggest city and is growing faster than others.

They are Fitzroy, but they will have two important additional roles:

1) Tapping into new Australians. Hence, that huge population growth. They are to be the game's shopfront for new Australians. All efforts with new cultures are to be fronted by Fitzroy. This is THE enormous growth opportunity in future as our population explodes, rather than a certain geographic area.

2) "The team for the Territories". Apparently the game is now "complete" with Tassie. Wrong. There is no club in the ACT or NT. Now they will have a presence

• Three home games in Canberra
• Two home games in Darwin
• Six home games in Melbourne
• A minimum of five of their 11 away games will be in Melbourne, so they have at least 11 Melbourne games

Send GWS back to Western Sydney where they belong.

Brisbane is Brisbane is Brisbane. They were Brisbane in 1987 - 1995, they've been Brisbane since 1996, and they'll be Brisbane again after Fitzroy reclaims the Lions nickname.

Fitzroy's VFL-AFL history will simply have a gap in it. They restart and rectify the biggest piece of bastardisation in league history, when Oakley, Collins and their accessories took it upon themselves to kill a football club.

Not only that, it'll be heaps cheaper than any new expansion club. You won't be propping this one up for the next 40 years like you will be with GC, GWS and maybe Tassie.

The story restarted.

History, reimagined.

Fitzroy returns to the national stage.

The Lions.

Kings of the jungle, roaming the plains once again.

You know it makes sense.

 

[eth-dog]

If we must have a 20th?

Seeing nowhere else stands out... let's do it...

Fitzroy.

Spend a bit of money on a proper training complex

Ready made stadium/s

Ready made supporter base. And growing - Melbourne's population growth is massive. You have to fish where the fish are - Melbourne is Australia's biggest city and is growing faster than others.

They are Fitzroy, but they will have two important additional roles:

1) Tapping into new Australians. Hence, that huge population growth. They are to be the game's shopfront for new Australians. All efforts with new cultures are to be fronted by Fitzroy. This is THE enormous growth opportunity in future as our population explodes, rather than a certain geographic area.

2) "The team for the Territories". Apparently the game is now "complete" with Tassie. Wrong. There is no club in the ACT or NT. Now they will have a presence

• Three home games in Canberra
• Two home games in Darwin
• Six home games in Melbourne
• A minimum of five of their 11 away games will be in Melbourne, so they have at least 11 Melbourne games

Send GWS back to Western Sydney where they belong.

Brisbane is Brisbane is Brisbane. They were Brisbane in 1987 - 1995, they've been Brisbane since 1996, and they'll be Brisbane again after Fitzroy reclaims the Lions nickname.

Fitzroy's VFL-AFL history will simply have a gap in it. They restart and rectify the biggest piece of bastardisation in league history, when Oakley, Collins and their accessories took it upon themselves to kill a football club.

Not only that, it'll be heaps cheaper than any new expansion club. You won't be propping this one up for the next 40 years like you will be with GC, GWS and maybe Tassie.

The story restarted.

History, reimagined.

Fitzroy returns to the national stage.

The Lions.

Kings of the jungle, roaming the plains once again.

You know it makes sense.

Are you Sam Kekovich?

 

[Cubs2Lions]

If we must have a 20th?

Seeing nowhere else stands out... let's do it...

Fitzroy.

Spend a bit of money on a proper training complex

Ready made stadium/s

Ready made supporter base. And growing - Melbourne's population growth is massive. You have to fish where the fish are - Melbourne is Australia's biggest city and is growing faster than others.

They are Fitzroy, but they will have two important additional roles:

1) Tapping into new Australians. Hence, that huge population growth. They are to be the game's shopfront for new Australians. All efforts with new cultures are to be fronted by Fitzroy. This is THE enormous growth opportunity in future as our population explodes, rather than a certain geographic area.

2) "The team for the Territories". Apparently the game is now "complete" with Tassie. Wrong. There is no club in the ACT or NT. Now they will have a presence

• Three home games in Canberra
• Two home games in Darwin
• Six home games in Melbourne
• A minimum of five of their 11 away games will be in Melbourne, so they have at least 11 Melbourne games

Send GWS back to Western Sydney where they belong.

Brisbane is Brisbane is Brisbane. They were Brisbane in 1987 - 1995, they've been Brisbane since 1996, and they'll be Brisbane again after Fitzroy reclaims the Lions nickname.

Fitzroy's VFL-AFL history will simply have a gap in it. They restart and rectify the biggest piece of bastardisation in league history, when Oakley, Collins and their accessories took it upon themselves to kill a football club.

Not only that, it'll be heaps cheaper than any new expansion club. You won't be propping this one up for the next 40 years like you will be with GC, GWS and maybe Tassie.

The story restarted.

History, reimagined.

Fitzroy returns to the national stage.

The Lions.

Kings of the jungle, roaming the plains once again.

You know it makes sense.

Welcome Gil to BigFooty, hope you enjoy your stay on here

 

[kickazz]

Just get rid of Carlton.

 

[Canberra Pear]

Just get rid of Carlton.

If they move to Canberra, they can keep their CFC logo.

 

[Evo47]

How much fun would the New Zealand Kangaroos be?

Admittedly, I’m drunk…still it’s a nice thought

 

[Obeanie1]

Disagree re not aligning with a WAFL team. I am bias and I admit that but if it is Joondalup it would be mad not being West Perth trading as Joondalup. You would instantly pick up 10-20k members if it was West Perth in my opinion.
They won't align though as the AFL love making up clubs out of thin air everywhere but Victoria. Was ok for their State league clubs to be the AFL but no where else.

What about the Peel area supporting a team as a region?

Big region, lots of fans and money.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

What about the Peel area supporting a team as a region?

Big region, lots of fans and money.

Fremantle’s region. If you went south then Bunbury is the only option.

 

[1990crow]

I was going thru the harbour tunnel the other day when a Range Rover passed me with NSW plates AND the stock standard matchbox sized MFC sticker on its back window.

If I had of been on the bridge I would have driven off it !!

Carlton to relocate to NSW and become the NSW Blues to put Carlton fans out of their misery.

 

[redlegs1984]

Not what it was. The Crows have been in The comp for 32 years. That's close to 2 generations that have grown up with dimishing or zero SANFL support. The majority of of old school Norwood supporters jumped on the Crows. A 3rd SA team would be an absolute failure. I think another WA team would be as well.

A Norwood entry would be a sensation. There’s a dormant army of supporters who’d dump the Crows/other AFL clubs in a heartbeat. The Crows/Port synthetic,soulless rivalry would pale in comparison to Norwood /Port derbies.

 

[peetoo]

eh people always say its a party strip, no real people, party town
below is the map and you can see the party strip

on your screen are hundreds of thousands of houses and apartments with 700,000 residents.
zoom out and go a little further south to northern rivers and you add another 300,000 residents

that's a catchment of 1 milllion people. (same coincidently as perth had in 1987 when eagles started and adelaide in 1990 when crows started).

i wish people would realise the SUNS arent going anywhere

View attachment 1677785

Incidentally, we are told Gold Coast is a rapid growing area. On that photo, where’s it going to grow to? All bush and hills

 

[Cubs2Lions]

Incidentally, we are told Gold Coast is a rapid growing area. On that photo, where’s it going to grow to? All bush and hills

Didn’t the AFL tell you that the “growing area” is actually just the growing waitlist for entrance into the party strip near Surfers Paradise

 

[Billy ray]

Incidentally, we are told Gold Coast is a rapid growing area. On that photo, where’s it going to grow to? All bush and hills

Into the very same bush and hills. Plus infill in suburban areas.
And of course, up

 

[Purple Suit]

Into the very same bush and hills. Plus infill in suburban areas.
And of course, up

That’s a fair point. If the AFL is fighting for relevance in a 1m people city, plus 2m in GWS etc. Why try and do it again in a 450k city with two established rugby teams.

Time to take the easy option and just go WA3. Fighting a war on too many fronts cost the Germans & it would cost the AFL plenty.