The AFL is About To Be In Another Victorian Era 

From 2008 to 2011 saw only Victorian teams play off in the Grand Final and from 2008-2010 only saw Victorian teams in the top 4. To be fare only five teams made the top four in that time Geelong, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Hawthorn, but the four years of no interstate team looking like a serious threat was an issue that the AFL never commented on with Gold Coast entering in 2011 and Greater Western Sydney entering in 2012 gave the Victoria, Interstate dynamic a 10/8 no sport in the world have that many teams in one state and now it is starting to show more than ever. Since 2011 the Grand Final has been played between a Victorian and Interstate team but only Sydney 2012 has taken the cup out of the place to be. Fremantle, West Coast, Adelaide and Sydney twice has played off on Grand Final day and failed with only Sydney in 2016 looking like they were and actual chance to win. Fans complain about the MCG advantage but I feel on Grand Final day it’s about the nerves. Fremantle, West Coast and Adelaide couldn’t handle the nerves and Sydney 2014 got too cocky after coming off their best ever home and away season in their VFL/AFL history and Sydney 2016 got defeated by the hungrier Bulldogs on the day. So, between the years of 1990-2006 only Sydney 1996 lost to a Victorian team on the MCG on Grand Final day (West Coast 1991 lost at Waverly) so the ground should be that much of an advantage.

 

That isn’t the biggest issue now in the top four finished three Victorian teams and one interstate team that isn’t the issue though ladder changes every year, the issue is that Interstate teams are on the down or has been down for a while and do not look like getting up. Gold Coast Suns are at the start of a 2nd rebuild like Melbourne was in 2014 but the disadvantage of being on the Gold Coast and not Melbourne. The Suns has already lost one captain in Tom Lynch who is going to the first place Richmond who is likely going back to back. Showing the unevenness of the competition and free agency. Another captain Steven May is looking more likely to leave to other top four side in Collingwood. Their cross-town rivals in Brisbane also has little to no success making the finals once since 2005 and that was in 2009 coming close on 2013 with Essendon missing out on the final due to the drug saga. Lions are on their way up but are still five or six years away if everything works out from actually having challenging from a flag. Going south to New South Wales and Sydney will always be there but if the last two years showing us that they are starting to show their age and even if they do not miss the eight they don’t look like seriously challenging for a flag.

 

Their little brother the Greater Western Sydney Giants premiership window is closing faster than they know what to do with. Very unlucky not to play off in the 2016 Grand Final missed was less unlucky in 2017 but finished seventh this season. And with so many injuries and the possibility of losing a number of players to free up cap room the Giants are at risk of free falling down the ladder as soon as 2020. Adelaide played off in the 2017 Grand Final but got their dates wrong and really have not been seen since. Off filed issues and players leaving by the number has put the Crows in the same situation as the Giants and could fall down the ladder. On the other hand, Adelaide still has a strong list and if fit in 2019 could still challenge for the flag. Port Adelaide requited a number of players the last couple of year to make it a team to challenge for the flag but so far has failed miserably. Finishing 5th in 2017 and losing to West Coast after the siren in extra time and not even making the eight in 2018 has put a lot of worry through the Power camp.

 

      In Western Australian West Coast finished the 2018 2nd on the ladder but is tipped to not even make the Grand Final with the bookies favouring the 3rd place Magpies to play in the Grand Final but with West Coast in danger of losing a number of player and their stars getting up in age 2018 could be the final year for a couple of years that the Eagles are flying high. The last team are the Fremantle Dockers and currently 5th of all time on the longest time to win their first flag in VFL/AFL history only behind Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, North Melbourne and St Kilda. Depends on the day Fremantle could be the worst team in the AFL or their rebuild is on track so it a safe bet to say Fremantle is as far as 1- 20 years away from winning their first flag.

 

Another issue is that with free agency and how easy it is to break a contract it is more and more easier for player to head home if they miss their mummy a little too much. And unfortunately for interstate teams there are more teams in Victoria and there are more Victorian players. As well as if you are an Interstate player is coming to your home state or coming to a Victorian club. There is a disadvantage in the comp that the AFL needs to fix and it isn’t the MCG advantage it’s how easy a superstar player can come back home to Victoria and the interstate club gets nothing in return. The bookies predicted it will be a Richmond v Collingwood Grand Final in 2018 now the likelihood of West Coast v Richmond is stronger every day. With recent injuries and suspensions looking harder and harder that the Eagles will knock off the Tigers