There’s
a lot to like about a highly competitive 2005 roller coaster season
that sees the once invincible Brisbane Lions and last year’s premier Port
Adelaide both struggling with only one clear win apiece after five rounds,
and has Brisbane
planted on the bottom of the ladder. But try telling that to the AFL or its TV
rights holders in Brisbane and Sydney.

While
the league can take delight in a
significantly reshaped eight less than a quarter of the way into the
season, the really bad news concerns questions now being asked of
Brisbane’s
obvious decline, and how do the Swans become competitive and do away
with its
ugly brand of football?

Both Brisbane and Sydney as
the AFL hierarchy appreciates only too well, need success if the league is to
continue to develop its TV product in the northern markets to make it
attractive as even remotely prime time scheduling.

The full story is on the website here.