AFL 2030, wait there's still more (Age)

[one-eyed]

20 teams in the AFL by 2030?

AFL 2030, wait there's still more

    Jon Pierik
    The Age
    August 26, 2012

THE AFL has begun to hypothesise on how the league will be shaped in 2030, with a third club based in Western Australia and Queensland part of its thinking.

As part of a conference featuring league boss Andrew Demetriou and club chief executives, what the league should look like, or aspire to, after expansion clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney are bedded down, was discussed.

The Northern Territory has long wanted an AFL club, and so has Tasmania. ''We talked about what does 2030 look like, and that is only 18 years away,'' Demetriou said. ''We hypothesised that had anyone in 1994 predicted what the AFL competition will look like in 2012, I don't think anyone would have got near it.

''You can never say never. I am on the public record as saying, with the population the way it is going, you could see one day, I don't know when, … additional teams in the northern part of Western Australia and the northern part of Queensland, Tasmania, who knows?

''Certainly, in the short term, in the foreseeable future, that is not going to happen.''

Demetriou has stated in recent weeks that he is refreshed after taking seven weeks off and still has much to achieve in coming years. But will he still be in charge come 2030? ''I know one thing, I won't be around in 10, 15 years to worry about it,'' he said.

The first step towards playing regular home-and-away matches overseas is set to be taken next season when St Kilda heads to Wellington, New Zealand, for an Anzac Day clash, possibly against the Sydney Swans. If given the go-ahead, it will be the first overseas match for premiership points.

Demetriou said he expected more home-and-away matches to be held overseas within two decades.

''I can certainly see some games being played abroad. The world is getting smaller, travel times are getting less, why not?'' Demetriou said. ''You have got to aspire to do things that challenge the norm. That came up the other day - who knows?''

In the meantime, improving the balance sheets of the Suns, Giants, several Melbourne clubs and Port Adelaide remains paramount.

The Power has begun to search for a new coach and president, with Demetriou declaring it was ''extremely important'' for the under-siege club to find high-quality replacements.

While much has been made of the spoils the Power will receive when home games are shifted to the Adelaide Oval from 2014, Demetriou warned it was not the panacea for its troubles.

''If you think that Adelaide Oval will be their salvation, no, it's mistaken,'' he said. ''Adelaide Oval gives the Port Adelaide Football Club an opportunity to build on what they have already got. It can provide a catalyst for more finances to inject into the club.

''But they have got to get their structure right, they have got to get the right chairman, they have got to get the right coach.''

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-2030-wait-theres-still-more-20120825-24tml.html#ixzz24dTuRQiv

[Chuck17]

What about King Island.

Surely there is a need for that region to have a team, after all the great and mighty Beefcake hails from there

[Coach]

What about King Island.

Surely there is a need for that region to have a team, after all the great and mighty Beefcake hails from there

He could coach the team

[Chuck17]

Exactly get on board guys its gunna happen

[mightytiges]

The only reason there's talk of a third WA team is due to the mining boom over there and the fact Subi's capacity is 40k and the Eagles can't fit all their members in (Freo's membership would be close to capacity as well). Once the new 60k stadium is built by 2018 there won't be members of the existing two clubs on waiting lists and quite possibly the mining boom may be over by then.

As for a 3rd Queensland team (presumably up North) that's a long long way off (ie. 50 years). The AFL doesn't yet even have a Cairns team playing in the NEAFL state league.

Tassie is more deserving of its own AFL side but is restricted by its small population and limited growth. Hobart's is only around 220k and Launcestion's 110k and that's ignoring the north-south divide down there. The irony for Tassie is if the population of both cities ever increased to a combined 1 million they could argue for two AFL sides (one each) rather than just sharing one club.

New Zealand would also be on the AFL's radar in the distant future. Our culture would infiltrate NZ and the AFL would've seen the extra revenue and ratings the NRL got last year having an Australasian comp. with the Warriors making their Grand Final. Mind you I think the horse bolted 100 years ago on that front when we lost out to the rugby codes. NZ prior to WWI use to send a team to play in the state Aussie Rules carnivals.

[tigs2011]

Tassie is more deserving of its own AFL side but is restricted by its small population and limited growth. Hobart's is only around 220k and Launcestion's 110k and that's ignoring the north-south divide down there. The irony for Tassie is if the population of both cities ever increased to a combined 1 million they could argue for two AFL sides (one each) rather than just sharing one club.

If they count all the heads they will be over half way at least.  woahhhhhh

[Darth Tiger]

Nothing at all about grassroots local, country nor state level footy.

These blokes are self appointed custodians of the Aussie Rules game, where is the blue print for the heart land ?

[mightytiges]

Nothing at all about grassroots local, country nor state level footy.

These blokes are self appointed custodians of the Aussie Rules game, where is the blue print for the heart land ?

They just take it over and call it AFL [insert state] such as AFL Victoria  . The SANFL and WAFL are holding out and fighting against any stupid name change to corporate speak. Those in AFL House seem to have forgotten that the 'F' in AFL stands for Football  .

[Penelope]

its a pet gripe of mine. The AFL act like they own the game and you can see the success they have with this aspect when you hear people refer to Aussie rules as AFL. You try explaining that the game is Australian (or aussie) Rules football and the AFL is just a trademark that think they own the game. Most people look at you with a blank stare.

I also reckon that this stems back to when the the VFL was formed. It took them the better part of a century, but they killed of the VFA, something i reckon gives the scum a great sense of satisfaction. I hope the old VFA clubs reform the comp and break away from the VFL completely, leaving that to be a reserves comp for the AFL and allowing them to exist in their own right.