Opinion What unpopular AFL opinions do you have? - Part 2

[biaseddustyfan]

It’s more feasible than an N.T team for sure, but 19 or 20 teams is just so ridiculous. Look at how many problems we have now with 18 teams. Spreading the market even thinner with 20 teams is insanity.

around 12-13 teams would be ideal

many teams like North, Dees and Saints are worthless and should be removed asap for the benefit of everyone else

 

[Coolangatta]

around 12-13 teams would be ideal

many teams like North, Dees and Saints are worthless and should be removed asap for the benefit of everyone else

Nah, cap it at 20 teams.

Move North to Canberra, bring in the NT, merge Gold Coast and Southport: Gold Coast Sharks.

Giants actually play full time in Sydney and call themselves Western Sydney Giants instead of stupid GWS acronym.

There you have two teams in each state, plus Tasmania, ACT, NT, and a little tweak to strengthen the expansion sides.

 

[Dan26]

Nah, cap it at 20 teams.

Move North to Canberra, bring in the NT, merge Gold Coast and Southport: Gold Coast Sharks.

Giants actually play full time in Sydney and call themselves Western Sydney Giants instead of stupid GWS acronym.

There you have two teams in each state, plus Tasmania, ACT, NT, and a little tweak to strengthen the expansion sides.

You've got this weird obsession with wanting teams in every state and city or it isn't a national competition. You are so wrong. The biggest sporting league in the world is the NFL who have 32 teams in 26 states. That means 24 states don't even have a team. Same with the NBA and MLB. Does that mean they aren't all national competitions? Of course they are. There are just some markets which are too small to justify a team.

You need minimum 500,000 in a heartland AFL area to have a team, 2,000,000 in an NRL dominated area and 1,000,000 in a 50/50 AFL/NRL area.

Melbourne/Geelong combined has 5,000,000 people with a 90 minute travel radius hence 10 teams.

Canberra has less than half a million people, and it isn't even an AFL dominated area. How is the hell can it support a team?

The talk of an N.T team is a joke. It has 150,000 people. It's like the NFL putting a team in Alaska. Just because a state or city exists doesn't mean it can justify a team.

Darwin only has 1/180th of the Australian population. They will NEVER have a team. This "ignorant enthusiasm" for 20 teams is just that - ignorant enthusiasm.

 

[Canberra Pear]

Canberra has less than half a million people, and it isn't even an AFL dominated area. How is the hell can it support a team?

I've already told you this, but you're just counting the ACT. Our suburbs flow over the NSW border. Within an hour, we have about 600k. We're also growing fast - that'll be 700k by the time a 20th team enters. Not to mention Canberra borders the Riverina - a footy heartland with no representation.

Canberra's economy also punches well above its weight for its population. Despite having 200k fewer people, Canberra's economy is actually slightly bigger than the Gold Coast's.

 

[Dan26]

I've already told you this, but you're just counting the ACT. Our suburbs flow over the NSW border. Within an hour, we have about 600k. We're also growing fast - that'll be 700k by the time a 20th team enters. Not to mention Canberra borders the Riverina - a footy heartland with no representation.

Canberra's economy also punches well above its weight for its population. Despite having 200k fewer people, Canberra's economy is actually slightly bigger than the Gold Coast's.

You still need over 1 milllon to justify a team, and respectfully, you're pushing it if you include the Riverina. The border is over 150km away.

 

[Canberra Pear]

You still need over 1 milllon to justify a team, and respectfully, you're pushing it if you include the Riverina. The border is over 150km away.

Canberra isn't an AFL heartland, but we have a strong AFL following. Adelaide and Melbourne don't have twice the AFL fans per capita as we do. If Melbourne can support nine teams and Adelaide can support two, Canberra can easily support one.

The Capital Region (which includes the nine LGAs surrounding the ACT, but not as far as the Riverina) will have more than 800k by the time a 20th team enters.

And, respectfully, you can't keep ignoring the economic part. The fact that we have the same sized economy as the Gold Coast despite our population is noteworthy. Canberra has a 40% higher median income than Perth. A 70% higher median income than Tasmania. So a greater percentage of Canberra's population can afford memberships and merch (which is also why we're able to support multiple codes).

 

[Coolangatta]

You've got this weird obsession with wanting teams in every state and city or it isn't a national competition. You are so wrong. The biggest sporting league in the world is the NFL who have 32 teams in 26 states. That means 24 states don't even have a team. Same with the NBA and MLB. Does that mean they aren't all national competitions? Of course they are. There are just some markets which are too small to justify a team.

Apples and oranges. We aren’t the USA, thank god. We don’t have 50 states, we have 6. 20 teams with all six states + ACT and the NT is very doable and the TV money can pay for it.

However, I don’t expect the Roos to relocate, so I’d prefer Canberra as the 20th team as they have the population to support a team.

You need minimum 500,000 in a heartland AFL area to have a team, 2,000,000 in an NRL dominated area and 1,000,000 in a 50/50 AFL/NRL area.

Melbourne/Geelong combined has 5,000,000 people with a 90 minute travel radius hence 10 teams.

Canberra has less than half a million people, and it isn't even an AFL dominated area. How is the hell can it support a team?

Then why did Gold Coast get a team then? If they are 50-50 at best, they’d need to have 1 million people to support a team, according to you.

The talk of an N.T team is a joke. It has 150,000 people. It's like the NFL putting a team in Alaska. Just because a state or city exists doesn't mean it can justify a team.

Darwin only has 1/180th of the Australian population. They will NEVER have a team. This "ignorant enthusiasm" for 20 teams is just that - ignorant enthusiasm.

Tell that to the media. They are taking a NT side seriously, and South West WA. I agree with you, you need 500k people, but they must know something we don’t.

I think it’s that the next media rights deal will mean the AFL can prop up any expansion side they want to have.

The NT Chief Minister has said that they’d rather spend a billion dollars on other things than a stadium if the feds gave them the money.

I think Gold Coast has shown you don’t need a million or two million people to get a team going.

You might disagree but they are excelling at grassroots level. If the Suns make the finals regularly, their membership and crowd numbers will increase, no doubt about it.

Just look at the crowds Canberra gets. They were good before the Giants existed so it’s not because they’re Giants fans, either.

I would love to see the ACT get their own team and prove you wrong about their viability. They would.

Or maybe the Bombers can relocate there and James Hird can return as their coach. He’s a Canberra man, after all. Would make for a great redemption story.

 

[Dan26]

Apples and oranges. We aren’t the USA, thank god. We don’t have 50 states, we have 6. 20 teams with all six states + ACT and the NT is very doable and the TV money can pay for it.

The point (which you missed) is that even the biggest sporting league in the world only has half of their 50 states represented. Canberra would be 30 years away, and NT has no chance. Zero

However, I don’t expect the Roos to relocate, so I’d prefer Canberra as the 20th team as they have the population to support a team.

They need a bigger population. They are not AFL heartland.

Then why did Gold Coast get a team then? If they are 50-50 at best, they’d need to have 1 million people to support a team, according to you.

Gold Coast got a team because the AFL wanted two teams in the growth market of SE Qld. The Suns cannot support themselves without AFL assistance. SE Qld has a population of 4 million people, so if the team is competitive I think it can be viable. Maybe.

Tell that to the media. They are taking a NT side seriously, and South West WA. I agree with you, you need 500k people, but they must know something we don’t.

I think it’s that the next media rights deal will mean the AFL can prop up any expansion side they want to have.

The NT Chief Minister has said that they’d rather spend a billion dollars on other things than a stadium if the feds gave them the money.

No one with a brain is taking a NT side seriously. It's a fantasy of the "ignorant enthusiasts"

Canberra has little chance of happening unless the AFL relocate GWS there (which is unlikely)

Calm the farm with this ridiculous 20-team talk. Not every small market has to have a team. It has to be viable. The USA proves that.

 

[Coolangatta]

The point (which you missed) is that even the biggest sporting league in the world only has half of their 50 states represented. Canberra would be 30 years away, and NT has no chance. Zero

They need a bigger population. They are not AFL heartland.

Gold Coast got a team because the AFL wanted two teams in the growth market of SE Qld. The Suns cannot support themselves without AFL assistance. SE Qld has a population of 4 million people, so if the team is competitive I think it can be viable. Maybe.

No one with a brain is taking a NT side seriously. It's a fantasy of the "ignorant enthusiasts"

Canberra has little chance of happening unless the AFL relocate GWS there (which is unlikely)

Calm the farm with this ridiculous 20-team talk. Not every small market has to have a team. It has to be viable. The USA proves that.

Ridiculous 20 team talk? It’s going to happen if Tasmania get a team. They will go to 20.

If the AFL agrees with your assessment that Canberra needs a million people, then that rules out Darwin, because they’d need 500k people.

The NT is too sparse to count its whole population. It also rules out South West WA which is 50+ years away from having 500k people.

So that means Perth would get the 20th team. Don’t forget, Melbourne has barely 2.5 times the population of Perth, but 4.5x the number of teams.

So, if Melbourne can support 9, Perth can support 4. If it’s going to be WA3, it has to be based in Perth.

In any case, you better get used to the reality of 20 teams because it will happen if Tasmania comes into it. They don’t want an odd number of teams and they want to add an extra game to the media rights deal to increase its value.

I’m not convinced the AFL agrees with your assessment. If they’re going to say Canberra doesn’t have the population, then neither does the NT or SW WA. They’d look like hypocrites.

But the only argument I’ve seen against Canberra is that it’s Giants territory, not that they don’t have enough people. The biggest hurdle they have to overcome is an orange one with a big big sound.

 

[Scotland]

Greg Swann was a mistake.

 

[FreddyTwoShoes]

Greg Swann was a mistake.

his mum and dad didn't plan it?

 

[demondavey]

around 12-13 teams would be ideal

many teams like North, Dees and Saints are worthless and should be removed asap for the benefit of everyone else

Unfortunately I tend to agree.

North
Demons
Saints
Port

 

[demondavey]

Greg Swann was a mistake.

He’ll become a mouth piece for the suits. Nothing will change.

 

[Coolangatta]

Unfortunately I tend to agree.

North
Demons
Saints
Port

Nah. If you were going to contract, you cut the Dees, Saints, and Roos.

Dogs to Canberra, sets up a great rivalry with the Giants. Tassie Devils come in.

Back to 16 teams.

But the only good reason there’s ever been against expansion is the talent pool, not just of players, but coaches and staff.

I couldn’t give a toss about the difficulty in winning a flag.

As I’ve said before, it didn’t make jack shit difference to a third of the Vic clubs when it was just a 12 team VFL.

 

[biaseddustyfan]

Greg Swann was a mistake.

most popular opinion in footy

 

[BigPond101]

In any case, you better get used to the reality of 20 teams because it will happen if Tasmania comes into it. They don’t want an odd number of teams and they want to add an extra game to the media rights deal to increase its value.

More teams = more media rights money isn't some unbreakable law otherwise the AFL would just bring in 40 teams and sell the rights for trillions.

There was already rumblings the networks are unhappy with the quality and all the meaningless one sided games and that was before the current round which is on track to be the worst of the year. There is a tipping point where more teams will lead to such poor standards the media rights will collapse and evidence says 18 is already pushing it. We dont need 20 teams and another 80 players diluting the talent pool

 

[Coolangatta]

More teams = more media rights money isn't some unbreakable law otherwise the AFL would just bring in 40 teams and sell the rights for trillions.

What a ridiculous thing to say. Yes of course there’s a limit, but the AFL is going to do it in moderation and wait until expansion sides can become viable unlike some of the struggling Vic clubs.

In fact, the AFL never planned on expanding to 19 teams yet. They wanted to wait until the Suns and Giants became established, but Tassie forced their hand.

There was already rumblings the networks are unhappy with the quality and all the meaningless one sided games and that was before the current round which is on track to be the worst of the year.

Yeah, sure there is. All there is, is the dissatisfaction of shit teams like Carlton and Essendon getting prime time fixtures, and that’s a scheduling issue which can be fixed.

There is a tipping point where more teams will lead to such poor standards the media rights will collapse and evidence says 18 is already pushing it. We dont need 20 teams and another 80 players diluting the talent pool

Oh, well, there you have it, no more teams, BigPond101 has spoken!

Hate to burst your bubble, but if they build that stadium in Tasmania, we’re not going to stay on 19 teams. We’ll have a 20th team, whether you like it or not.

There’s no telling that’ll be the end of it either, but it will be until at least 2050, I’d wager.

 

[BigPond101]

What a ridiculous thing to say. Yes of course there’s a limit, but the AFL is going to do it in moderation and wait until expansion sides can become viable unlike some of the struggling Vic clubs.

In fact, the AFL never planned on expanding to 19 teams yet. They wanted to wait until the Suns and Giants became established, but Tassie forced their hand.


Yeah, sure there is. All there is, is the dissatisfaction of shit teams like Carlton and Essendon getting prime time fixtures, and that’s a scheduling issue which can be fixed.


Oh, well, there you have it, no more teams, BigPond101 has spoken!

Hate to burst your bubble, but if they build that stadium in Tasmania, we’re not going to stay on 19 teams. We’ll have a 20th team, whether you like it or not.

There’s no telling that’ll be the end of it either, but it will be until at least 2050, I’d wager.

DAZN who own Foxtel literally want to rip up their contract because their exclusive games are so worthless. Look at the schedule for tomorrow and the last two month of Sundays. But sure it's just a few dumb fans complaining about Carlton and Essendon in prime time.

Google DAZN foxtel afl and set it to results in the last week. Or continue to believe they are salivating over tomorrow's blockbuster games. St Kilda vs North, what network wouldn't want to pay billions for that. More teams please.

 

[Coolangatta]

DAZN who own Foxtel literally want to rip up their contract because their exclusive games are so worthless. Look at the schedule for tomorrow and the last two month of Sundays. But sure it's just a few dumb fans complaining about Carlton and Essendon in prime time.

Have you had your head up your ass the last 30 years or only ever watched footy games from five years ago?

Because I hate to break it to you, but there’s always been shit teams, dead rubber games, blowouts, and lacklustre finals series, whether there’s been 16 teams, 14, or 12.

That’s never going to change.

Google DAZN foxtel afl and set it to results in the last week. Or continue to believe they are salivating over tomorrow's blockbuster games. St Kilda vs North, what network wouldn't want to pay billions for that. More teams please.

Well there’s nothing you or I can do about it. There’s too many teams in Victoria, but why the **** should Tasmania miss out on getting a team because there’s 10 ****ing teams in Victoria instead of 6 which is what it should be.

Like I said, unless you believe the stadium is going to be axed, we will have 20 teams, whether you like it or not. Tassie and someone else. Hate to burst your bubble.

And they deserve their own team, not some Vic club relocating.

Good luck trying to get rid of North, St Kilda etc, though.

Maybe there won’t be 22 teams in my lifetime but there will be 20.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

There are way too many crappy games because there are way too many poor teams and way too many ordinary players. Not sure how adding more teams and players is going to remedy the situation.

 

[BigPond101]

Have you had your head up your ass the last 30 years or only ever watched footy games from five years ago?

Because I hate to break it to you, but there’s always been shit teams, dead rubber games, blowouts, and lacklustre finals series, whether there’s been 16 teams, 14, or 12.

That’s never going to change.

Well there’s nothing you or I can do about it. There’s too many teams in Victoria, but why the **** should Tasmania miss out on getting a team because there’s 10 ****ing teams in Victoria instead of 6 which is what it should be.

Like I said, unless you believe the stadium is going to be axed, we will have 20 teams, whether you like it or not. Tassie and someone else. Hate to burst your bubble.

And they deserve their own team, not some Vic club relocating.

Good luck trying to get rid of North, St Kilda etc, though.

Maybe there won’t be 22 teams in my lifetime but there will be 20.

Well you said no one was concerned about the number of crappy games so i educated you, no need to get so upset. .

There won’t be a Tassie team IMO. The hysterical movement around big bad AFL keeping poor little Tassie out was made up 95 % of people who didnt even care and were just jumping on the bandwagon. The AFL knew as soon as these idiots "won" they would move on to the next fashionable cause, leaving a small base of true believers.

Now they just quietly drag it out and keep putting up obstacles until it goes away. But this is just my opinion

 

[Coolangatta]

There are way too many crappy games because there are way too many poor teams and way too many ordinary players. Not sure how adding more teams and players is going to remedy the situation.

So Tassie can’t have a team because there’s too many teams in Victoria?

They don’t want a relocated Vic club and I don’t blame them. It’s a spit in the face to them, they’re footy heartland.

They want a state team in state colours and they’ll get it if the stadium is built.

Personally, I think the only 6 Vic clubs that should be in the AFL are the Pies, Blues, Dons, Tigers, Hawks, and Cats, but unfortunately we’re stuck with an over saturated Vic market.

 

[Coolangatta]

Well you said no one was concerned about the number of crappy games so i educated you, no need to get so upset. .

There won’t be a Tassie team IMO. The hysterical movement around big bad AFL keeping poor little Tassie out was made up 95 % of people who didnt even care and were just jumping on the bandwagon. The AFL knew as soon as these idiots "won" they would move on to the next fashionable cause, leaving a small base of true believers.

Now they just quietly drag it out and keep putting up obstacles until it goes away. But this is just my opinion

Okay, fair enough, sorry about that.

I hope there is. ACT for team 20.

Happy for them to leave it there after that and let the game breathe until Darwin hits 500k people and tries to crowbar a 21st licence.

But that is more than 50 years away so I’ll not likely ever see it happen. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing if the AFL stops expanding until someone actually begs for a licence like Tassie has and then they consider it.

 

[themidlandmaster]

My unpopular option is disagreeing with people who say the current talent pool is too shallow.

Australia's population has grown significantly, the AFL is making significant headlands in Queensland and NSW.

Looking also at the mid-season draft, there are plenty of players out there performing at least replacement-level in the AFL, with some better than that - Tom McCarthy as an example.

 

[Canberra Pear]

My unpopular option is disagreeing with people who say the current talent pool is too shallow.

Australia's population has grown significantly, the AFL is making significant headlands in Queensland and NSW.

Looking also at the mid-season draft, there are plenty of players out there performing at least replacement-level in the AFL, with some better than that - Tom McCarthy as an example.

Not to mention players are having longer careers.

Apparently players over 32 have increased almost 10-fold in just the past 12 years.