Can the league sustain 18 teams?

[seven]

Really have to question the idea of expanding the league to 18 teams. Personnel I don’t think there is enough talent to spread around.
IMO there’s not enough talent to spread around for 16 teams. Every year you can expect at least 2 teams to finish with less then 5 wins. Once the league expands I would expect we will see at least 4 teams now to struggle to win 5 or more games a year.

I think the quality of games will drop with more ‘easy beat’ teams.
Drafting quality players for teams finishing up the ladder will be much more difficult.
Teams will have less depth – a hand full of injuries could kill a team’s season.

Really think the AFL are rushing this expansion. ???

 

[Rosy]

They'd have to be a bit concerned about only managing to get a handfull to watch the recent AFL game on the GC.  Sure they weren't GC teams participating but you'd think they would have got a lot more general footy supporters if it was an AFL passionate area. 

 

[KiwiTig]

There is always the two division option. At least it would have a proper draw.

Would also allow promotion/relegation series.

County cricket did it a couple of years ago. Obviously the round ball game have always used it.

 

[craig]

In regard to creating a 2 tier comp the danger would be the ability of clubs in the second tier to obtain adequate sponsorship, as likely suitors would not see their money as geting value in the second level as it would not be the premier competition.

For example the Kangas or Demons are wallowing in 2nd division with poor membership to start with, and the corporate sector would be much less willing to tip millions of sponsorship dollars into clubs who are not getting A1 exposure in the so called premier competition.

It sounds good in theory but in reality a 2 tier comp would send poorer clubs to the wall as they couldnt obtain funding.

As it stands now even poorer clubs are privvy to the big TV $ and sponsorship as they are part of the premier competition.

The VFA was ruined when they went to a two division competition, and Rugby League was ruined when they tried to implement a elite competition with Superleague.

The advent of superleague in NRL hastened the demise of foundation clubs such as Western Suburbs, Souths, Balmain, and North Sydney.

Personally i wouldnt be in favour of such a development, but with most things time will tell.

 

[mld]

No.

 

[Azza]

Hard to see it working in the short term. Player quality issues may be solved by the African and Pacific Islands pushes in the longer term. And I guess the hope is Aussie Rules will encroach on kids playing league in western Sydney and the GC, although I can't see this really happening.

Surely the main problem is the draw tho? This compromises the whole competition as it is, and 18 teams will only make it worse. I can't believe the AFL will be happy with the number of teams until this issue is resolved.

 

[Tigermad2005]

Hell we can not get 22 good players now.

 

[Tigermad2005]

The sooner the dog, north and the sanits go uder the better.

 

[mb64]

No.

Agree,The new Gold Coast club will be a success but the West Sydney side will be a disaster.

 

[TigerGoneNorth]

No but relocating exisitng clubs hasn't worked so the only way to get the geographic coverage the AFL want is to spread the jam more thinly and force out the weak.

If I were a Kangas fan I'd be annoyed that they didn't move as I'd rather move than die and they will surely (and sadly) now die.

 

[Bill James]

The AFL aren't interested in the league can sustain 18 teams. But they are pretty sure 18 teams can sustain the AFL or the wouldn't be going ahead with it.

 

[seven]

No but relocating exisitng clubs hasn't worked so the only way to get the geographic coverage the AFL want is to spread the jam more thinly and force out the weak.

If I were a Kangas fan I'd be annoyed that they didn't move as I'd rather move than die and they will surely (and sadly) now die.

Think we might see a merger like the Fiztroy and Brisbane

 

[Tigermad2005]

No

 

[mld]

No

Agree.