Are teams such as west coast or collingwood?

I think you're right with the chicken and egg thing but it's also just about good management. Geelong had got out of debt and was heading in all the right financial directions before it had the 2007 flag under its belt. Part of it is having an attractive product to sell and that's more than just winning flags. It's being a club that people WANT to belong to with merchandise that's attractive, culture that is compatible with how the supporters feel and a style of play that's good to watch.

I disagree somewhat with Lexi. I think Geelong and a few other clubs like Weagles, Pies and Swans offer a lot more than just standard good gyms and nice facilities. Firstly they're attractive because they're winning clubs but also there is a lot of mentoring, financial advice, family and community support etc etc. All that stuff is intangible and off the books but makes a lot of difference to how much players enjoy being there - just listen to guys like Hamish MacIntosh and Josh Caddy gushing about how amazed they've been at how Geelong works.

A few teams have had a mountain of picks and some very expensive acquisitions and still haven't even gone close to winning flags. I won't name names - we could all name them. I don't think money can buy flags but I do believe Gold Coast or GWS will be gifted a flag over the next five years or so - that's a different debate again!! :-)

EDIT: Nah Lexi, I don't think they need that to perform at 100% on the field, I think they need that to stay at the club, contribute to the club, get the club reported and seen in the best light possible, learn how to maximise the money they've got and to feel like they're part of something great. There's performing at 100% on the field and then there's performing at 100% as part of a close knit successful team and club - much much bigger than the old fashioned "now get out there and give it 100%" we used to get as youngsters :-)

Regardless of how rich or poor a club is viz Assets & $$$ on the Balance Sheet, all are constrained by the $alary cap with its minor variances, which clubs themselves seem to have little issue with.

Preferential draft picks have made little or no difference to ladder positions.

There is an argument that richer clubs have better football depts, but AFL funds have been made available to allow clubs to upgrade over the past few AFL budgets.

So all that leaves is the the selection of coach and players in each squad and then whether the best that they can do is good enough to win the flag. The flag is won on the field so IMO anything off-field becomes just an excuse for poor player selection, poor coaching or players who are not giving 100%

Sorry mate but when you cut through all the bulsh coach and players is the bottom line, regardless of club.

Edit:- Sorry called away before I got to finish.....WCE are rich because they had the whole state to market to when they started.... and Collingwood is as a result of good brand management over a very long period. Demographics is playing an ever increasing role, particularly in Vic.

@Quandary:- If players now need what you suggest to give 100% on the field, as I suggest, then one is part of the other... agreed ?

Money could buy flags in footy quite some time ago. but with the AFL tightening it's grip with player salary caps + being more hands on with overseas promotion & wanting a more level playing field for all 18 clubs in today's footy. it has all changed for the better, or so they say?

Since 1990 all 16 clubs, less the 2 new comers have played in preliminary finals. which means that they are more than happy with the results they have been able to achieve with the model that they have in place.

Rich, successful clubs don't count for too much under this current model that the AFL has in place. board members of all 18 clubs have the final say in clubs structuring. whether this equals success. well the results of all clubs on the playing field speak for themselves at the end of the day.

cheers.

Collingwood have eddie, basically the mark cuban of the AFL, ace well we are new to the league, we had success pretty much right from the get go. As we are the number fan base club in WA

collingwood fans have no teeth and are a shite stain on the toilet paper of society

Neither. We had one of our biggest profits in our spoon year.