Legendary AFL commentator Bruce McAvaney can’t see SANFL club Norwood getting a licence to become the AFL’s 20th club.
With their home ground Norwood Oval hosting two AFL games during Gather Round, reports suggest that club officials want to showcase their club on the national stage as they think they’re the best-placed state league club in Australia both on and off the field.
Channel Seven’s Josh Money reported that the Redlegs believe they could join at the same time as Tasmania in 2028 given their pre-existing structures, but McAvaney can’t see it happening.
While the passionate South Australian would love to see footy continue to grow in the state, McAvaney thinks that putting a team in the Northern Territory would “complete the jigsaw” of having an AFL club in every major part of the country.
“I couldn't (see Norwood being the 20th team), and look, I say that with my head and not my heart. I think two is the right fit for South Australia,” McAvaney told SEN Whateley.
“If there is a 20th team, I'd really love it to be in the Northern Territory. That would complete the jigsaw. I think there will be a time where we will go there.
“Tasmania will take a while, but they’ve got 170,000 members which is amazing, and it looks like the stadium will get done.
“When that gets up and going, I would have thought the next step should be the Northern Territory.”
While McAvaney understands the ambition from Norwood people, he isn’t sure whether it’s the right move for both the AFL and South Australia given that both the Crows and Power have only truly begun to flourish in the last decade since moving home games to the Adelaide Oval.
“I think to come to Adelaide and basically have another South Australian footy club like Port Adelaide going in, I don’t know if that’s the right thing,” McAvaney explained.
“That’s both for the AFL and I don't think it's the right thing for South Australia.
“I can understand ambition from some Norwood people, but I don't think it's got legs, pardon the pun.
“I don't think it will get off the ground.”
The AFL has never committed to a 20th team despite greenlighting Tasmania to become the competition’s 19th franchise.
