Great post Style.
Apologies, as I think I clearly misunderstood the line of your questioning now I see it in context to you broader opinion. So I'm in near total agreement. ;D
Personally I'd argue for Canberra, Tassie and the much debated WS as the next best expansions areas. But I'm of the same mind as you, that i'd one day love to see a 20 team comp and that Illawarra region is an obvious must - though you raise some very good points - which for mine would more be more keys as to what must go into the set up process as opposed to reasons why not to have a HAL side there.
As an Australian football supporter, the failure of the 2022 WC bid hurt most I think in this regard, as the loss of development benefits and impetus it would have provided to our national football scene is simply too sad to think upon. Without the WC expansion its clearly going to be considerably slower, especially as it just doesn't seem that football will ever get any real recognition by our press until we win a world cup perhaps... as making the final of the AC still could not displace Rugby in it's off season have a beach game against nippers getting pride of place... or tennis when no Aussies are even left competing in the competition.
We all know the reasons why this is, but it hurts all the same, and a WC is just so big that there's just no ignoring it. So we'll just have to bloody win the thing I guess.
What do people think of the launch of Fury's "Community Model" by the way?
Oh, and thats a very impressive background you have Style! Congratulations also for your efforts on behalf of the game in this country.
