Long-time South Australian sports commentator Chris Dittmar has claimed a bid is in the works for SANFL club Norwood to become the AFL’s 20th team.
Speaking on Triple M Adelaide Breakfast, Dittmar suggested business people tied to the club were working on a plan that would see the Redlegs join the national competition after Tasmania is admitted as the 19th side.
The Tasmanian bid is yet to be approved, remaining reliant on the approval of funding to construct a new stadium in Hobart, but it would seem logical to add a 20th club once the Apple Isle club is awarded entry so 10 games can be played each weekend.
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The Northern Territory or Canberra as new markets, or a third team in either footy-mad Perth or Adelaide, would be the most logical candidates to host the 20th club.
“Two different people have told me this in the last seven days, therefore I think there’s something in it,” Dittmar said.
“I don’t know the likelihood of it happening, I don’t know if it can happen. But we’ve got two AFL teams in this town, obviously, the Crows and Port Adelaide.
“There’s an SANFL club putting together a bid, I believe, a group of business people attempting to get into the AFL.
“Who would really, really want to go into the AFL, you reckon? Who’s equipped.
“I’m led to believe there’s a group of Norwood business people … when Port Adelaide went in, there was a lot of talk at the time. There was a joint bid at some time, Port and Norwood were talking together at one point. And then both went separately (to bid).”
Norwood is one of two traditional South Australian footy powerhouses, winning 31 SANFL premierships – behind only Port Adelaide’s 36 – including the 2022 Grand Final over North Adelaide.
Current AFL players including Zac Bailey, Harrison Petty, Kade Chandler, Orazio Fantasia, James Aish, Peter Ladhams and Max Michalanney played for the Redlegs.
It would seem unlikely the club would be permitted to enter the AFL as currently presented, given they share colours and a club song with Melbourne.
Their home ground Norwood Oval will host two AFL games in Round 5, when the Gather Round comes to Adelaide.
The official capacity is 15,000 but capacity for the Gather Round games has been limited to 10,500.
“What I haven’t been able to get to the bottom of is, is it the football club actually putting a bid together, or is there a group of business people,” Dittmar said.
“I’ve had two different fellas (tell me) – and they weren’t idiots, by the way, people I respect. Supporters of the club (are tied to the bid).
“Bear in mind if there’s a Tasmanian team, there’ll be 19 teams, so they could be the 20th. They want to be the 20th team.”
