interesting reading about the problems within the AFL ranks about the disparity between the top teams and their counterparts at the other end of the ladder, the thrashings are becoming more consistent, I wonder if its time to create a 1st and 2nd division, with the AFL's expansion in mind this may become reality together with the free agent rules, loyalty vs money vs the players will to play in a successful teams will create the super league?
Interesting theory Malthouse put out there , so just how did the Eagles go from bottom of the ladder , to being in the finals , and so far beating 2 of the top four teams??
Doesn't this outcome mean that it is possible for bottom (,so called 2nd rate )teams to do exactly the same . There were may Eagles players who many thought were gone , but have been resurected .
If they can do it , why not others?,
There goes the theory Mick
Looking at the top sides, compared to the bottom sides in relation to bulk, those in the bottom are mostly kids in real terms. Yesterday with Pt Adelaide was a prime example. Young lads, playing seasoned men. One or two of the bottom teams have a good spread, but devastated by injury.
The rest....well it's a little ugly.
There are a number of the Vic based teams are living from week to week, no chance of getting to the top four in the current set up.
Watching one of the footy shows this morning, and Jude Bolton agreed that the top sides have lean season hardened sprinters across the centre line. Even Jude has dropped Kg's to stay in the mix. This takes a few seasons to develop. Unless your side has the purchase power of the top sides in relation to training set ups and staff. Then is all a bit too tough, and your side is just the whipping boys for the more financial teams.
Some of the shakers and movers for the top Vic sides make it their life ambition to hound, denigrate, and generally make sure the lower sides never get the chance with a constant media spread of bad news. One such was up to his old tricks mid week about the Greater Western Sydney side. Same clown drove a media hate campaign in regards to Brisbane when Leigh had them screaming at the top, by squealing whinging and sooking about any concessions Brisbane had over his sorry lot at the time. 
Nowadays its a little different re testing, and for each Eagle on the list, its right in your face... regardless. 
I vote for a VFL [ bring home sth melb and fitzroy ] and vic can feild one AFL side.
It was an interesting concept that Malthouse highlighted.
Speaking about The Cats - everyone usually says they are old. But we have a great young batch running around too. 23's and under include Hawkins, and out triplet of rising stars, Menzel, Duncan, and Christensen. Plus young Taylor Hunt, Varcoe, and SELWOOD! (Yes he's roughly 23!). The 24's to 28's includes Stevie J, Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly, Byrnes, Lonergan, Mackie, Stokes, Blake, Harry Taylor & Trent West.... That's 15 quality players who are still pretty young in a team that many consider is old ! You can even throw in Vardy & Hogan into the sub 23's. 17 quality players.
Happy Days at Geelong anyway!
PS - we had to give away Mummy to Swans, Laidler to Carlton, Prismall to Bombers, and Djekura to Doggies, because we couldn't afford to pay them, and/or they wanted more game time/opportunity at another club. Plus there was a raft of hot players come through our Geelong Falcons, including Jonathan Brown, and Nick Maxwell.... but there is an entire quality squad of 22 that we've had to let go of.... who still play.... or were drafted elsewhere before we (Geelong) could secure them...
I have zero interest in Aussie rules and wish that the whole thing would collapse completeley thereby making thousands of players available to play rugby and giving us a hope of beating the All Blacks consistently.
As a massive League fan what I'd be concerned about is the huge money some of the AFL clubs are paying for x NRL stars.AFL is huge and there must be some fantastic talent kicking around so why would you spend/waist money on the unknown 
After this weekend,it clear the cap is not working
I think AFL has set the benchmark for management for football codes in this country, which is astonishing when you consider there is no real international competition. The fan loyalty is very similar to British football fans in its intensity. Perhaps that is where league and rugby go wrong. You only have to look at the crowd attendances to appreciate the difference.
Yes, AFL can get 300,000 spectators to a round. 2 big games at say The MCG, 85k+65k = 150k. Then you only need 25k average at the other 6 games and you hit 300,000 spectators at the venues.
Another to think about it is 100,000 people at The Grand Final, equates to about 1 in every 200 Australians at The MCG on 1 afternoon. 300,000 to 1 round out of about 3,000,000 (estimated) who are properly into it, has attendance as high as 1 in 10....
Or over 7,100,000 ground attendances in 2010, and already 5,500,000 attendances so far in 2011.
If you look at Melbourne FC the problem is obvious there.
Connolly and Schwab completed f***ed the Dockers, now they have done the same to Melbourne.
They should have gone, not Bailey.
Also, the AFL are trying to spread too little talent among too many clubs, especially in Melbourne.
Its about time they merged some of the clubs and brought the comp back to 16 (or even 14).
Next years 18 teams is just too many, also with 14 clubs they could play each other twice and even out the comp.
The Eagles draw this year was a dream, just because they finished last.
