cannavo
Something's Coming...
Poll will run for 3 days
The winner picks the next team from the list below or
can use their one-time self-imposed idea where they put forward an idea not listed below
Winner has 48 hours to choose or one will be chosen at random
Entry 1 cannavo
"Facing possible expulsion from Moorabin after falling behind on their repayments to the local council and a stagnant premiership count, the St Kilda Saints looked to shake things up and start a new era by making the audacious decision to relocate to New Zealand during the 90s. Motivated by a desire to expand the reach of Australian rules football internationally and financial considerations, the Saints' relocation sparked immense intrigue and debate amongst the community. Eventually, the establishment of the Wellington Saints was announced and it introduced the vibrant culture of Australian football to a new audience in New Zealand, where rugby traditionally hold the #1 spot as the biggest sport. The board wanted to retain some of the St Kilda history for their supporters in Victoria by keeping their traditional tri-panel and to appeal to the locals by changing the black to silver. A nod to the native Silver Fern which was added to their new logo. The Saints' transition to the New Zealand market presented some challenges, from building a fanbase in a rugby-dominated nation to adapting to the country's sporting infrastructure. Yet, this bold move undoubtedly contributed to the globalization of Australian rules football, forging new connections and narratives in the sport's ever-evolving story. Eventually the A in AFL would be changed to Australasia as the sport grew outside its girt by sea"
---------------------------------
Entry 2 BigChippa52
"During the Mid 2010's the saints were struggling, the AFL helped the saints by making them the stars of a new program to help the growth of AFL in NZ, the saints introduced one-off kits to be used in NZ which had silver in them, with the saints luck turning around mainly in NZ, their fan base grew, in 2017 the AFL suggested a legitimate move to NZ without hesitation the saints excepted this offer moving to Christchurch, for their first jumper it was a silver crusader, in 2022 they asked the NZ locals what they wanted to see for a new home kit they responded with stickman and mainly black kit, so a sliver red outlined version of an old saints preseason kit along with the stick man and a new logo, resulted in the kit you see above this is loved by all saints fans NZ and Vic, the saints have been in the race for finals a lot making the top 8, 5 times since the move, it's looking more and more likely we could see the saints win thier second premiership and first as a NZ side."
---------------------------------
Entry 3 Supercheapgiants
"Amongst an array of struggling football, St Kilda ventured for viable expansion of their brand, incomes and strength within the AFL. After failed merger attempts with Melbourne, and talks with Fitzroy coming to a halt, St Kilda become stuck on the brink of folding. Only until a keen newspaper clipping inspired thousands of Kiwis to pursure an idea, AFL in NZ, eventually convincing the Saints over the drink. So, the NZ Silver Saints were born, hailing Red and Black of St Kilda with NZ's silver and were primarily based out of Auckland. The introduction of AFL to NZ sent a rapid boom in popularity outside of Victoria, the chain reaction reaching the interest of NSW and QLD with a strong push for AFL to overtake Rugby Union and League across both nations. The board strived to combine the traditions of St Kilda with that of New Zealand, and so created a Silver Fern - Tri Panel combination, where the middle white panel is replaced by a salient Silver Fern. The National Bank of New Zealand were extremely supportive, taking primary sponsorship of the club, whilst the AFL allowed the Silver Saints to run a Blacked Out version of the league logo as representation of NZ's national sporting colours. Further, Nike jumped at the oppotunity of a new market, not only taking on board the Saints, but further all clubs for the 1997 season to expand their footprint in Australian Sports."
---------------------------------
Entry 4 Haymo_of_thor
"The year is 1989, and the debt-riddled St Kilda Saints, are forced to relocate across the Tasman to New Zealand. Trading their white for a New Zealand Silver, the Saints wore a Guernsey inspired by the jumper they wore throughout the first half of the 20th century, instead using black as the base colour to tie it in with the New Zealand sporting identity. The Saints were the first VFL team to relocate, with expansion starting after the Sydney Seagulls became a side in 1983. The Saints play three home games in Christchurch and Auckland, two in Wellington and Dunedin, and one home game per year in Melbourne. In all games in Victoria including, their singular home game, the Saints wear their traditional guernsey."
Alternate timeline categories
Bold - Completed with poll results
Mergers
- Melbourne and St Kilda merged - 1995
- Tasmania - Fitzroy Merger
- Sydney - Fitzroy Merger
- Gold Coast Suns seek merger with Sharks to stay alive
- Fitzroy merge with Brisbane to become the Fitzroy Bears
- Tasmania agree to merger with North Melbourne
- Saints relocate to NZ
- Essendon relocates to NT to become Alice Springs
- Hawthorn relocates to Canberra
- Fitzroy relocates to Canberra
- Fitzroy move to Brisbane in the 80s (Prior to the Bears existing)
- South Melbourne relocate to Tasmania
- South Melbourne relocate to Canberra
- Fitzroy complete move to North Sydney - 1980
- Footscray relocate to Queensland - 1981
- West Coast Eagles enter the SANFL
- Brisbane Bears enter the SANFL
- Fitzroy to the SANFL - 1981
- Footscray to the SANFL - 1981
- Adelaide Uni to the SANFL - 1991 (cannot use only black and white)
- Collingwood to the SANFL - 1997
- East Perth to the VFL - 1980
- Norwood accepted as the 2nd SA team in the AFL
- Launceston apply for the AFL
- Essendon apply for the WAFL
- Port Adelaide crows join the AFL - 1991
- Papua New Guinea enter the AFL
- Mount Gambier join the SANFL
- Limestone Coast join the SANFL
- Sydney enter as a separate team (Bloods stay in Vic)
- Darwin join the AFL - 1991
- Public Service Football Club join the VFL
- Gold Coast fold, new North Queensland team take their place - 2030
- NZ enter 90's State of Origin
- Broome become the 2nd WA AFL team
- Gold Coast hijack Brisbane Bears AFL entry - 1986
- West Coast Eagles VFL kits altered due to Williamstown sharing the same colours
- GWS keep their 'Team GWS' colours
- Port Adelaide retain their Magenta
- Adelaide's hurried concept
(Adelaide board hastily attain clothes from local sport store and use the 5 colours to design their new AFL team)
- Hawthorn release Ochre jumper - 2000
- Skittle's sponsor Essendon and release special guernsey
- Heidelberg Warriors align with Collingwood for 1 season - 1996
- Melbourne remain as The Fuchsias
- Melbourne remain as The Invincible Whites
- Collingwood remain as Brittania
