If football could not start again for the whole of 2020, I genuinely fear for 18 clubs being able to survive.
I think the AFL got a loan with the aim to play at some point in 2020 and still able to go forward with all 18 clubs in 2021.
But if September goes by and football has not re-started I think we reach a stage where it becomes very hard for clubs in either most debt or smallest supporters bases to continue in an 18 club model. The AFL would then seriously have to consider it being a 16 club league going forward or even 14 if it becomes really bad financially. If only one club was in serious trouble I also believe you would bring Tasmania team into it as the 18th club to keep it as 18 but that would only happen if Tasmanian government were prepared to give same type of support they were intending to, for a Tassie club licence later in decade.
I think the AFL got a loan with the aim to play at some point in 2020 and still able to go forward with all 18 clubs in 2021.
But if September goes by and football has not re-started I think we reach a stage where it becomes very hard for clubs in either most debt or smallest supporters bases to continue in an 18 club model. The AFL would then seriously have to consider it being a 16 club league going forward or even 14 if it becomes really bad financially. If only one club was in serious trouble I also believe you would bring Tasmania team into it as the 18th club to keep it as 18 but that would only happen if Tasmanian government were prepared to give same type of support they were intending to, for a Tassie club licence later in decade.