Further to our recent story on the South Australia versus Victoria state league match, the West Australian Football League has again demonstrated their status at number three, proving too good for the Sunshine state. Played in northern Queensland's Townsville at Tony Ireland Stadium, the Sandgropers were jumped in the first quarter, trailing by 17 points at the first change. By half-time they were in front and the contest was done and dusted by the last change. The last four goals of the game made the margin a very comfortable 73 points, WAFL 24.20 (164) to AFLQ 14.7 (91).

Who would have thought, back in 1984, that when arguably the oldest football club in Australia, the Melbourne Football Club, approached a young Irish Gaelic footballer to come play their foreign game Down Under, that the young man might go on to be the club's salvation?

That's now quite a possibility, with Jim Stynes tipped to become the next Chairman of the Melbourne FC. After a distinguished career on the field Stynes stayed in touch with football but also involved himself in anti-racial vilification and youth charity work in Australia, leading to him being named Victorian of the Year in 2003.

Melbourne have struggled both on the field and financially for many years now and have survived on AFL hand-outs. The current administration has had some success, but not enough to guarantee long term survival. Stynes, now very much well-connected and well-respected in Victoria's business community, has been mentioned more and more this year as the man to put together an off-field team to lead the Demons to stability. It looks like he will now make his move.

The AFL has confirmed that talented Queensland teenagers will be given the chance to opt out of the next national draft, to instead sign up for the new Gold Coast franchise. The initial development squad will play in the Victorian elite Under 18 TAC Cup in 2009 and the VFL in 2010, before entering the AFL in 2011.

The South Australian state league team representing the SANFL has cemented the league's reputation as the best competition outside of the AFL. The interstate match yesterday at Adelaide Oval was SA's tenth win from their last eleven matches, and the emphatic nature of their victory over the Big V should put the debate to rest, at least until the next time the two states meet.

The South Australian National Football League has rejected the Northern Territory's bid to place a side in the SANFL in 2009. The AFLNT is now determined to secure a place in the West Australian Football League or one of the AFL Queensland competitions. In the longer term, the South Australian league risks losing its widely held status as the premier state league.

Last month Tasmania's premier, Paul Lennon, announced Australia’s island state will make an official bid for an AFL licence, adding some intrigue to the AFL's expansion strategy and making headlines.

The number of injuries affecting AFL players with international backgrounds is high at the moment. Brisbane's Irish duo of Colm Begley (quad) and Pearce Hanley (hamstring) are both expected to be out for 4 weeks, while Sydney's Irish defender Tadhg Kennelly missed the Tribute Match (hamstring) but should return this week. Samoan figurehead Aaron Edwards (broken leg) faces 8 to 12 weeks on the sidelines, and South African born Luke van Rheenen (foot) is out for the season. At last check Carlton's O'hAilpin brothers at least weren't injured, but Setanta continues to be bounced between seniors and the VFL, and Aisake was recently dropped to the VFL Reserves over reportedly an on-field dispute with VFL team-mate and assistant coach Matthew Lappin.

The injury toll across the AFL is remarkably high this season, with clubs averaging about eight players injured right now, out of playing lists of approximately 40. No wonder Geelong, Western Bulldogs and Richmond are performing quite well, with three, two and three injured players respectively. Brisbane and Essendon "lead" the injury field with 13 each. It would seem the week break for most players will have been most welcome.

The AFL’s ability to remain Australia’s numero uno football code has been the issue of much debate recently. Each of Australia’s four major football leagues, AFL (Australian football), A-League (soccer), NRL (Rugby League) and Super 14 (Rugby Union) have outlined their expansion plans for the near future.

The AFL came good on plans to introduce a Gold Coast club (following the Kangaroos rejection of an offer to move north). Joining them will be a new Western Sydney club. These development plans were unanimously supported by the existing 16 clubs, with the Queenslanders expected to join the league in 2011, followed by the New South Welshmen in 2012 (though a simultaneous launch is possible). Following the AFL’s call, the FFA offered two new A-League licenses for the 2008-09 seasons, which were eventually awarded to the Gold Coast and Townsville. The FFA has since postponed the expansion due to doubts about financing the new clubs (however a more recent update suggests that when the A-League does expand it may add four new licenses, fast-tracking the second Sydney and Melbourne clubs). The NRL announced they were discussing the feasibility of expansion into the Central Coast, Sunshine Coast, Wellington, west of Brisbane and Australian football-stronghold, Perth. The Super 14 could also become the Super 15, with SANZAR considering a new Japan-based club comprised predominantly of local and Argentinean players.

Whilst some of the expansion plans could be considered unrealistic, at least in the short term, they suggest that this challenge to the AFL will not be short-lived. The question of whether all four codes can survive at a professional level has even been raised. This article looks at my suggestions for the AFL for the next 25 years.

The much anticipated Tribute Game has been won by Victoria by 17 points before nearly 70,000 fans at the MCG. The one-off match was close all night but never really rose to great heights, with the Big V pulling away in the last quarter.

New Zealand born Trent Croad may wear the Big V on the field with the best of the AFL, but his fern leaf tattoo signals his Kiwi heritage.

The 28 year old 190cm, 100kg Kiwi will play in perhaps the most important Australian Rules representative match in his career. While he wore the Big V in 1999 and appeared in Australia's International Rules side three times, this game is Australian Rules and the opposition for the 2005 All-Australian will be the best yet.

Recruited from suburban Melbourne, Croad is a star backman at the Hawthorn Hawks, but he played with the Fremantle Dockers (which is currently the home of the AFL's other NZ born player Adam Campbell).

Croad's grandfather Eric Bloggs represented New Zealand in rugby union 1946-1949 and toured South Africa. Trent is a huge fan of the All Blacks and recently met with the players at the Hawks current home Waverley Park.

After the withdrawal of Ireland's Tadhg Kennelly from the match (the only player in the squads to have been born and grown up overseas), Trent Croad will take the honour of representing the overseas born AFL players in the All-Star game.

Trent may get the assignment of lining up on one of the game's biggest name forwards in Hawthorn teammate Lance Franklin or Geelong's 2007 premiership centre-half-forward Cameron Mooney. One gets the sense that the match up may produce something special like Croad's magnificent soaring mark over his Victorian teammate Jonathan Brown in Round 19 last year.