It does say a lot in itself that the AFL need to look at NRL stars to generate interest in new areas. There will be a lot of interest in cutie when he first runs out for the GC. The GC is a very hard place to establish a sporting team, just ask the ARL and the FFA. Generating interest and spectators has proved extremely hard in the past and will continue to into the future.
To establish interest in a GWS team they will need to take someone like Hayne. Without an established NRL star people simply wont care. Sydney fans dont go to sporting event in large numbers and in all honesty it will divide more Swans fans in Sydney rather then generate more fans for AFL. Everyone who lives in Sydney knows about the AFL and have more then likely watched the game, we simply dont like it . Having another team wont change peoples opinions. How many people in Melbourne know and care about the Storm, not very many considering they have some of the biggest names in our game. A GWS team will incounter the same problems. Another thing AFL fans need to realize is if anyone from this new team misbehaves the Sydney media will torch them. They will not be protected like they are in Melbourne.
To say RL fans are terrified because we are talking about the AFL on a RL forum is very short sighted and simple. Its a topic because the AFL is coming into our backyard, and people in these 2 states dont live in a world were we think our game is the only game. Dont for one minute doubt the product rugby league has and think that the AFL can walk on in and take over Sydney.
