North have always been willing to think outside the square when it comes to footy and the club's

place in the game. In the '90s, we pioneered Friday night football. We played in Sydney at a time the Swans were still finding their feet and, no doubt, that put a few noses out of joint. Trying to take clinics at schools that were rugby or rugby league mad isn't all that easy now, let alone back then. North Melbourne celebrate their 1999 flag. Credit:Sebastian Costanzo Then came matches in Canberra, before some were pushing us to the Gold Coast. Thankfully that was rejected strongly by the members and the board, and it has proved to be the right decision because we've seen how difficult it is to run a successful team up there. More recently the club has turned to Tasmania. Clearly, a lot of these decisions have been aimed at improving the club's bottom line and it must be said the Roos have posted a profit in 11 of the past 12 years. How can a club with that financial record be moved on? Gillon McLachlan has already said he plans to have 18 teams when the footy's crisis eventually comes to an end – but for how long?

If the AFL is to make a call on the viability of the competition, then surely Gold Coast and GWS must be put under the microscope before North. That's not to try to spell the end for those expansion clubs. I don't want to see anyone out of a job. As we've seen during the current crisis, it's been terribly sad to see the number of people being stood down. Loading The Giants have built a great culture and are led by fantastic people in chief executive Dave Matthews and coach Leon Cameron. There are many other diligent workers beneath them.

Even at the Suns, I'm sure everyone is striving to get better. But the AFL has tipped millions of dollars into those clubs and will need to keep doing so well into the future. Can we afford to keep doing it? Those clubs will, of course, point to participation rates and Auskick levels and how they've increased

since they've had a presence in Western Sydney and Queensland, which is a good argument. But, in my opinion, Auskick rates can also be a bit wishy-washy. At times, it can be a glorified baby-sitting service rather than the starting point for new players or fans.