It's all to do with the population. Western Sydney has a huge BOOM in population and Sydney with nearly 4 million people only has the Swans. There is a market place for a 2nd team along with the GoldCoast.

I'm a lil torn int his discussion. I do believe Tasmania should be bought into the comp but im also selfish ad want a team in Brisbane so then i get to see the Doggies play here twice a year, but due to my selfishness then sydney miss out.

I agree with Daniel that location is a major issue. With two population centres in Tasmania, the team would probably be obliged to divide its time between Launceston and Hobart, and I struggle to envisage a strong team being developed that way.

It's tough to argue about the Gold Coast as a viable location. West Sydney could work - it does have a successful presence in several national competitions which Sydney is already in (Razorbacks vs Kings in NBL, Rams vs Fleet in defunct ARL, Ice Dogs vs Bears in AIHL (although Bears have ironically gone further west to Penrith now), and I heard they're looking at an A-League team there also). Of course, I'm guessing they'd play at Homebush as well.

The question, however, is where else would you put the new team? NT and ACT do not have the money to be viable. Tassie has the above issues. WSyd is likely to have better viability than Newcastle/CCoast.

Tassie should definitely have an AFL team! I don't see what the population has to do with it. Surely there's similiar populations that make Geelong, Freo, Port Adelaide viable clubs, and Tassie is close enough to Melbourne to allow opposition supporters of Melbourne based clubs to attend Tassie games. Why wouldn't the AFL go to a place where support is guaranteed as opposed to West Sydney, the heartland of Rugby?? Senseless.

I think the Gold Coast is deserving, Tasmania would be good, but there's not even a million people in the whole state...

In fact there's about half a million people in Tasmania and the same on the Gold Coast, but the key difference is the Gold Coast is growing, and Tazzy's not

Tasmania doesnt meet the criteria for a AFL team. Yes its a football state, yes they have a fantastic playing surface at Aurora Stadium but the population is under 500,000 for all Tasmania so then the location is a massive issue, Launceston or Hobart? Then there is corporate sponsorship which they will find very difficult to maintain there. They brought in the Tasmanian side into the VFL and it hasnt done very well in results or dollars.
Its never going to happen unfortunatley. They are looking at the GC cause their is massive potential, do i agree with a team being located there over Tasmania... no but money talks