Hmmm, from a civics point of view, the whole "Why should we spend money on sporting infrastructure instead of hospitals" is a quintessential one.
In this case, as with Blacktown and Cararra IIRC, there is the guarantee of attracting further investment from other bodies.
The NSW government will kick in 45 million for this, but that 45 million will be enhanced by 10 million from the AFL and 5 million from the Royal Easter Show people.
Everyone involved is getting a bargain, jobs, economic stimulus and infrastructure for constituents, and facilities for their team or event.
This is how the AFL sells these projects and gets this money. They compile a list of figures detailing estimates of jobs and tourism increases a new side will bring, then they lobby each level of government and any other interested parties, telling them all the same thing, if you put in for this, everyone else will too, including the AFL themselves.
The end result is for 45 million the government is getting a 60 million dollar construction project providing jobs and economic stimulus to the west, followed by an AFL team with all the jobs and travelling fans that that brings, and 200 million in AFL investment in the franchise, which is great value for 45 million.
Nothing of the sort is offered by the NRL, not the lobbying or organisational capabilities, and certainly not the money. It really is that simple.
PS I'm not sure the Barry O'Farrell is the ideal person to be contacting on this... he is a Victorian who is an avid AFL fan, and he supports Richmond