Yes it does, because unlike the NRL, the AFL have a long term 30+ year outlook on grabbing the hearts and minds of the youth. So you say lost $$$, they say $$$ well spent on the future growth of their game.
Think of it this way, the powers that be at the AFL, privately could not give a toss if 2 or 3 of their local teams in their heartland struggled or even died. They are heartland heavy, in this regard just like the NRL. I'm even of the opinion, that they may actually welcome a team or two biting the dust.
But either way, it is overall irrelevant to the big picture, they are growing the pie with each year that passes in all frontiers.
We on the other hand are not and just treading water or going backwards as our ratings and attendances has shown this year.
Also, I am not suggesting we go to alien outposts for these new teams. One should be in Brisbane and the other Perth, which may not be a heartland region, but hardly as alien as say Melbourne. They already have significant junior inferstructures in place and I believe would in a fairly short space of time(10 years) eclipse Melbourne's contribution on most levels if not all.
To ignore expansion is totally fool hardy and playing into the Networks and AFL hands and pandering only to our NRL clubs selfish motives.
