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id="toc-1850s:_Australian_rules_football's_establishment" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1850s:_Australian_rules_football's_establishment"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>1850s: Australian rules football's establishment</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1850s:_Australian_rules_football's_establishment-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1860s:_Rugby's_arrival_and_growth_in_Australia" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1860s:_Rugby's_arrival_and_growth_in_Australia"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2</span> <span>1860s: Rugby's arrival and growth in Australia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1860s:_Rugby's_arrival_and_growth_in_Australia-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1870s:_Australian_rules_declines_in_the_north_and_grows_in_the_south" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1870s:_Australian_rules_declines_in_the_north_and_grows_in_the_south"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3</span> <span>1870s: Australian rules declines in the north and grows in the south</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1870s:_Australian_rules_declines_in_the_north_and_grows_in_the_south-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1880s_and_1890s:_current_dichotomy_begins_to_form" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1880s_and_1890s:_current_dichotomy_begins_to_form"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.4</span> <span>1880s and 1890s: current dichotomy begins to form</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1880s_and_1890s:_current_dichotomy_begins_to_form-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1940s:_Code_Wars_-_battle_lines_drawn_in_the_Riverina" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1940s:_Code_Wars_-_battle_lines_drawn_in_the_Riverina"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.5</span> <span>1940s: Code Wars - battle lines drawn in the Riverina</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1940s:_Code_Wars_-_battle_lines_drawn_in_the_Riverina-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1980s:_National_football_competitions_professionalise_and_expand,_ACT_falls_to_rugby_football" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1980s:_National_football_competitions_professionalise_and_expand,_ACT_falls_to_rugby_football"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.6</span> <span>1980s: National football competitions professionalise and expand, ACT falls to rugby football</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1980s:_National_football_competitions_professionalise_and_expand,_ACT_falls_to_rugby_football-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Current_status" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Current_status"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.7</span> <span>Current status</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Current_status-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Physical_representation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Physical_representation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Physical representation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Physical_representation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-League_structures_and_expansions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#League_structures_and_expansions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>League structures and expansions</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-League_structures_and_expansions-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle League structures and expansions subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-League_structures_and_expansions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Australian_rules_football" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Australian_rules_football"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Australian rules football</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Australian_rules_football-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Australian_Capital_Territory" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Australian_Capital_Territory"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.1</span> <span>Australian Capital Territory</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Australian_Capital_Territory-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-New_South_Wales" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#New_South_Wales"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.2</span> <span>New South Wales</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-New_South_Wales-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Queensland" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Queensland"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.3</span> <span>Queensland</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Queensland-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Rugby_league" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Rugby_league"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Rugby league</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Rugby_league-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Rugby_union" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Rugby_union"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Rugby union</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Rugby_union-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Current_situation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Current_situation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Current situation</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Current_situation-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Current situation subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Current_situation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Australian_rules_football_east_of_the_line" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Australian_rules_football_east_of_the_line"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Australian rules football east of the line</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Australian_rules_football_east_of_the_line-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Australian_Capital_Territory_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Australian_Capital_Territory_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1.1</span> <span>Australian Capital Territory</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Australian_Capital_Territory_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-New_South_Wales_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#New_South_Wales_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1.2</span> <span>New South Wales</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-New_South_Wales_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Queensland_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Queensland_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1.3</span> <span>Queensland</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Queensland_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Rugby_league_west_of_the_line" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Rugby_league_west_of_the_line"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Rugby league west of the line</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Rugby_league_west_of_the_line-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Northern_Territory" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Northern_Territory"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2.1</span> <span>Northern Territory</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Northern_Territory-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-South_Australia" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#South_Australia"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2.2</span> <span>South Australia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-South_Australia-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tasmania" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tasmania"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2.3</span> <span>Tasmania</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tasmania-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Victoria" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Victoria"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2.4</span> <span>Victoria</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Victoria-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Western_Australia" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Western_Australia"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2.5</span> <span>Western Australia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Western_Australia-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Rugby_union_west_of_the_line" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Rugby_union_west_of_the_line"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Rugby union west of the line</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Rugby_union_west_of_the_line-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Northern_Territory_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Northern_Territory_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3.1</span> <span>Northern Territory</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Northern_Territory_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-South_Australia_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#South_Australia_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3.2</span> <span>South Australia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-South_Australia_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tasmania_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tasmania_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3.3</span> <span>Tasmania</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tasmania_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Victoria_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Victoria_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3.4</span> <span>Victoria</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Victoria_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Western_Australia_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Western_Australia_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3.5</span> <span>Western Australia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Western_Australia_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a 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data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Imaginary geographic line of football codes in Australia</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Barassi_Line.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Barassi_Line.jpg/300px-Barassi_Line.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="275" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Barassi_Line.jpg/450px-Barassi_Line.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Barassi_Line.jpg/600px-Barassi_Line.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1955" data-file-height="1795" /></a><figcaption>The Barassi Line, as proposed by Ian Turner in 1978. The line divides the regions where Australian rules football (southwest) or rugby league (northeast) is the most popular football code. Dots mark the locations of cities with at least one club at the highest professional level that deviates from the Barassi Line; hollow dots mark the locations of cities that formerly had a club.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ron_barassi_statue.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Ron_barassi_statue.jpg/170px-Ron_barassi_statue.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="367" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Ron_barassi_statue.jpg/255px-Ron_barassi_statue.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Ron_barassi_statue.jpg 2x" data-file-width="335" data-file-height="723" /></a><figcaption>Statue of Australian rules football star <a href="/wiki/Ron_Barassi" title="Ron Barassi">Ron Barassi Jr.</a>, namesake of the Barassi Line</figcaption></figure> <p>The <b>Barassi Line</b> is an <a href="/wiki/Imaginary_line" title="Imaginary line">imaginary line</a> in <a href="/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a> which approximately divides areas where <a href="/wiki/Australian_rules_football" title="Australian rules football">Australian rules football</a> or <a href="/wiki/Rugby_league" title="Rugby league">rugby league</a> is the most popular <a href="/wiki/Football_in_Australia" title="Football in Australia">football code</a>. The term was first used by historian <a href="/wiki/Ian_Turner_(Australian_political_activist)" title="Ian Turner (Australian political activist)">Ian Turner</a> in his 1978 <a href="/wiki/Ron_Barassi_Sr." title="Ron Barassi Sr.">Ron Barassi</a> Memorial Lecture.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Crowd figures, media coverage, and participation rates are heavily skewed in favour of the dominant code on either side.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-researchgate_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-researchgate-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-The_Barassi_Line:_a_globally_unique_divider_splitting_Australia’s_footy_fans_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-The_Barassi_Line:_a_globally_unique_divider_splitting_Australia’s_footy_fans-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Most other sports are unaffected by the dichotomy; <a href="/wiki/Cricket_in_Australia" title="Cricket in Australia">Australian cricket</a>, for example, has maintained consistent national interest throughout its history, while soccer is also popular throughout Australia. </p><p>Roughly speaking, the line follows <a href="/wiki/Queensland" title="Queensland">Queensland</a>'s western border, drops southeast through western <a href="/wiki/New_South_Wales" title="New South Wales">New South Wales</a>, and ends at the <a href="/wiki/Pacific_Ocean" title="Pacific Ocean">Pacific Ocean</a> at <a href="/wiki/Cape_Howe" title="Cape Howe">Cape Howe</a> on the border of New South Wales and <a href="/wiki/Victoria_(Australia)" class="mw-redirect" title="Victoria (Australia)">Victoria</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Marshall_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Marshall-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It divides New South Wales, with rugby league dominating in the state's eastern population centres but enjoying less popularity in the southwest and west; the <a href="/wiki/Riverina" title="Riverina">Riverina</a> region and western mining city of <a href="/wiki/Broken_Hill,_New_South_Wales" class="mw-redirect" title="Broken Hill, New South Wales">Broken Hill</a> both fall on the Australian rules football side. The line also runs through the <a href="/wiki/Australian_Capital_Territory" title="Australian Capital Territory">Australian Capital Territory</a>, where each sport has had similar prominence at different times throughout history – although the rugby codes have established greater prominence there in the decades since it was first proposed. </p><p>A 2022 study of grassroots support found that just 15% of Australian rules football clubs (243 of 1616) and 13% of rugby league clubs (109 of 863) are located across the line.<sup id="cite_ref-Tweedie_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Tweedie-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Professional teams that compete across the line in national competitions include: <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Swans" title="Sydney Swans">Sydney Swans</a> (1982), <a href="/wiki/Brisbane_Lions" title="Brisbane Lions">Brisbane Lions</a> (1996), <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Storm" title="Melbourne Storm">Melbourne Storm</a> (1997), <a href="/wiki/Gold_Coast_Suns" title="Gold Coast Suns">Gold Coast Suns</a> (2009) and <a href="/wiki/Greater_Western_Sydney_Giants" title="Greater Western Sydney Giants">Greater Western Sydney Giants</a> (2010). That is, four Australian rules football clubs in the <a href="/wiki/Australian_Football_League" title="Australian Football League">Australian Football League</a> (AFL), and two <a href="/wiki/Rugby_football" title="Rugby football">rugby football</a> clubs across the <a href="/wiki/National_Rugby_League" title="National Rugby League">National Rugby League</a> (NRL) and <a href="/wiki/Super_Rugby_Pacific" class="mw-redirect" title="Super Rugby Pacific">Super Rugby Pacific</a> competitions. However the majority of these clubs would not be viable without ongoing financial support from their parent competitions,<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> with the AFL alone providing over <a href="/wiki/AUD" class="mw-redirect" title="AUD">AUD</a>$70 million a year in total financial assistance in 2023 to its four northern clubs.<sup id="cite_ref-AFL_club_funding_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AFL_club_funding-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Teams that no longer compete include the <a href="/wiki/Brisbane_Bears" title="Brisbane Bears">Brisbane Bears</a> (1987–1995),<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/WA_Reds" title="WA Reds">Western/Perth Reds</a> (1992–1997),<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Adelaide_Rams" title="Adelaide Rams">Adelaide Rams</a> (1995–1997)<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Rebels" title="Melbourne Rebels">Melbourne Rebels</a> (2009–2024).<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-SMH30May24_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SMH30May24-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Active expansion bids include the <a href="/wiki/Western_Bears" title="Western Bears">Western Bears</a> (NRL) and <a href="/wiki/Expansion_of_the_Australian_Football_League#Cairns,_North_Queensland_(2010–)" title="Expansion of the Australian Football League">Cairns</a> (AFL). </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Origin">Origin</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Origin"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Ron Barassi Memorial Lecture was a series of lectures named after <a href="/wiki/Ron_Barassi_Sr." title="Ron Barassi Sr.">Ron Barassi Sr.</a> given between 1966 and 1978 by <a href="/wiki/Ian_Turner_(Australian_political_activist)" title="Ian Turner (Australian political activist)">Ian Turner</a>, a professor of history at <a href="/wiki/Monash_University" title="Monash University">Monash University</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Barassi Sr. played a number of Australian rules football games for <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Football_Club" title="Melbourne Football Club">Melbourne</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Australian_Football_League" title="Australian Football League">Victorian Football League</a> (VFL) before enlisting to fight in <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a> and subsequently dying in action at <a href="/wiki/Siege_of_Tobruk" title="Siege of Tobruk">Tobruk</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Barassi Line itself was named after <a href="/wiki/Ron_Barassi" title="Ron Barassi">Ron Barassi Jr.</a>, the elder Barassi's son, who was a star player for Melbourne and <a href="/wiki/Carlton_Football_Club" title="Carlton Football Club">Carlton</a> and a premiership-winning coach with Carlton and <a href="/wiki/North_Melbourne_Football_Club" title="North Melbourne Football Club">North Melbourne</a>. He believed in spreading the code of Australian rules football around the nation with an evangelical zeal, and became coach and major supporter of the relocated <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Swans" title="Sydney Swans">Sydney Swans</a>. He foresaw a time when Australian rules football clubs from around Australia, including up to four from <a href="/wiki/New_South_Wales" title="New South Wales">New South Wales</a> and <a href="/wiki/Queensland" title="Queensland">Queensland</a>, would play in a national football league with only a handful of them based in <a href="/wiki/Melbourne" title="Melbourne">Melbourne</a>, but his ideas were largely ridiculed at the time.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Despite <a href="/wiki/Australian_culture" class="mw-redirect" title="Australian culture">Australian culture</a>'s relatively homogeneous nature, a strong <a href="/wiki/Dichotomy" title="Dichotomy">dichotomy</a> exists in the country's <a href="/wiki/Football_in_Australia" title="Football in Australia">football</a> sporting culture. The divide has existed since <a href="/wiki/Australian_rules_football" title="Australian rules football">Australian rules football</a> and <a href="/wiki/Rugby_union" title="Rugby union">rugby union</a> developed their identities as distinct codes, before <a href="/wiki/Rugby_league" title="Rugby league">rugby league</a> overtook the latter as the dominant sport on the Eastern Seaboard. </p><p>There is documentary evidence of "foot-ball" being played in Australia as early as the 1820s. These games were poorly documented but appear to have been informal, one-off affairs. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1850s:_Australian_rules_football's_establishment"><span id="1850s:_Australian_rules_football.27s_establishment"></span>1850s: Australian rules football's establishment</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: 1850s: Australian rules football's establishment"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1858, <a href="/wiki/Cricket" title="Cricket">cricketers</a>, sports' enthusiasts and school students began to regularly play variants of <a href="/wiki/English_public_school_football_games" title="English public school football games">English public school football</a> in the parklands of Melbourne.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The following year, four members of the newly formed <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Football_Club" title="Melbourne Football Club">Melbourne Football Club</a> codified <a href="/wiki/Laws_of_Australian_rules_football" title="Laws of Australian rules football">the laws</a> which was later known as Victorian rules and Australian rules football. </p><p>The code reached New South Wales as early as 1861, Queensland by 1866 and had been played in other colonies by 1868. However despite an explosion in popularity in Victoria, it struggled to gain acceptance outside of its home colony. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1860s:_Rugby's_arrival_and_growth_in_Australia"><span id="1860s:_Rugby.27s_arrival_and_growth_in_Australia"></span>1860s: Rugby's arrival and growth in Australia</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: 1860s: Rugby's arrival and growth in Australia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Rugby union's initial organisation in Australia was mainly as a reaction to the expansion of Victorian code outside of its home colony. With the exception of South Australia and Tasmania which had been playing under their own football codes, the colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia had all organised Victorian rules clubs and competitions by the late 1860s. Following the <a href="/wiki/Victorian_Gold_Rush" class="mw-redirect" title="Victorian Gold Rush">Victorian Gold Rush</a>, Melbourne in the 1860s had become the largest and most influential city. <a href="/wiki/Australian_regional_rivalries" title="Australian regional rivalries">intercolonial rivalry</a> was strong and most colonies saw Melbourne's rise as not only an economic threat, but a cultural one to their <a href="/wiki/British_Empire" title="British Empire">British colonial status</a>. As such the media of the capitals of the <a href="/wiki/Colony_of_New_South_Wales" title="Colony of New South Wales">Colony of New South Wales</a>, <a href="/wiki/Colony_of_Western_Australia" class="mw-redirect" title="Colony of Western Australia">Colony of Western Australia</a> and <a href="/wiki/Colony_of_Queensland" title="Colony of Queensland">Colony of Queensland</a> began to promote the "old English game of football" (rugby union) from 1869 which had begun to become organised in England in the mid 1860s as a viable alternative. The <a href="/wiki/Colony_of_South_Australia" class="mw-redirect" title="Colony of South Australia">Colony of South Australia</a> and <a href="/wiki/Colony_of_Tasmania" title="Colony of Tasmania">Colony of Tasmania</a> where <a href="/wiki/Harrow_football" title="Harrow football">Harrow football</a> which had similarities to both games was popular, showed general apathy to the their rises in popularity. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1870s:_Australian_rules_declines_in_the_north_and_grows_in_the_south">1870s: Australian rules declines in the north and grows in the south</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: 1870s: Australian rules declines in the north and grows in the south"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The demise of Australian rules in Sydney began in 1869 when the largest schools, under pressure from the local media, switched to rugby.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Intercolonial rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne was by far the strongest with the Victorian colony surpassing it as Australia's most prominent city just a decade after its separation. While Australian rules remained dominant in Queensland, rugby began to prove a strong competitor in its capital Brisbane as interest in intercolonials against New South Wales began to grow. However Victorian rules began to increase its southern footprint with South Australia and Tasmania in the late 1870s, adopted the code to facilitate through <a href="/wiki/Representative_matches_in_Australian_rules_football" class="mw-redirect" title="Representative matches in Australian rules football">representative matches</a> against Victoria. The decision was made easier given the similarities to their own code and the Victorian code would grow there virtually unopposed. While slow to grow initially, rugby by the 1880s had become firmly established in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1880s_and_1890s:_current_dichotomy_begins_to_form">1880s and 1890s: current dichotomy begins to form</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: 1880s and 1890s: current dichotomy begins to form"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Queensland followed Sydney in 1884 when the colony's largest schools there voted to switch to rugby, causing the collapse of the code by there by the end of that decade.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> By the 1890s, Australian rules was extinct in Sydney and Brisbane with rugby spreading virtually unopposed throughout the respective colonies of New South Wales and Queensland. In Queensland, the <a href="/wiki/Northern_Rugby_Football_Union" class="mw-redirect" title="Northern Rugby Football Union">Northern Rugby Football Union</a> successfully banned the Australian code and rugby's popularity rose through success in intercolonial matches with New South Wales. As Australian rules gradually recovered its position in New South Wales, the <a href="/wiki/Southern_Rugby_Football_Union" class="mw-redirect" title="Southern Rugby Football Union">Southern Rugby Football Union</a>, the colony's governing football body introduced a ban on the Victorian code as early as 1874 to prevent its spread across the Victorian border.<sup id="cite_ref-Wagga_History_23-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wagga_History-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While it was not able to halt the Australian code, it severely impaired its growth until the turn of the century. </p><p>In the 1890s Australian rules began to surpass rugby union as the dominant code in Western Australia by the turn of the 20th Century and clear north-east/west divide between Australian rules and rugby territory had begun to form. </p><p>Australian rules experienced a national resurgence at the turn of the century however Rugby League's introduction in 1908 ushered in professionalism which after <a href="/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a> firmly established the code over rugby union in Sydney and Brisbane respectively, with the governing bodies assisting to spread this code through the major cities to the remote areas of the state mainly through school football. Rugby league's spread however met resistance in areas where Australian rules remained strong, such as the Riverina and Broken Hill in New South Wales as well as the Northern Territory which had developed a strong Australian rules following after the war. In the newly declared territories of the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory both codes would at times compete for marketshare, though Australian rules would continue to prove dominant. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1940s:_Code_Wars_-_battle_lines_drawn_in_the_Riverina">1940s: Code Wars - battle lines drawn in the Riverina</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: 1940s: Code Wars - battle lines drawn in the Riverina"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1946, Rugby league authorities convinced the New South Wales government to ban Australian rules in public schools in an effort to oust it from the Riverina, which resulted in schools previously playing the code in its major heartlands of Albury and Wagga switching to Rugby league.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While it did not succeed in extinguishing the Australian code there entirely, it usurped the Australian code's premier status in these places, allowing Rugby League to halt the line at Wagga. </p><p>At the time the term was first used, existing club competitions were semi-professional and state-based. The first national club football competitions emerged in the late 20th century: the <a href="/wiki/Championship_of_Australia" title="Championship of Australia">Championship of Australia</a>, the <a href="/wiki/NFL_Night_Series" title="NFL Night Series">NFL Night Series</a> and the <a href="/wiki/National_Soccer_League" title="National Soccer League">National Soccer League</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Warren2011_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Warren2011-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, these struggled for national interest. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1980s:_National_football_competitions_professionalise_and_expand,_ACT_falls_to_rugby_football"><span id="1980s:_National_football_competitions_professionalise_and_expand.2C_ACT_falls_to_rugby_football"></span>1980s: National football competitions professionalise and expand, ACT falls to rugby football</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: 1980s: National football competitions professionalise and expand, ACT falls to rugby football"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the 1980s, the VFL and <a href="/wiki/New_South_Wales_Rugby_League_premiership" title="New South Wales Rugby League premiership">New South Wales Rugby League premiership</a> began a period of professionalism and expansion, forming the basis of today's Australian Football League (AFL) and <a href="/wiki/National_Rugby_League" title="National Rugby League">National Rugby League</a> (NRL). The Australian Capital Territory found itself isolated behind the line and it wasn't until the introduction of the <a href="/wiki/Canberra_Raiders" title="Canberra Raiders">Canberra Raiders</a> in 1982 that it also began to fall into line. The result is the development of a regional dichotomy with strongly ingrained generational football cultures on either side. </p><p>Given the dominance of Australian rules and rugby on either side, other codes have also been slow to establish sustainable national competitions. The multinational body <a href="/wiki/SANZAAR" title="SANZAAR">SANZAAR</a>, which organises the <a href="/wiki/Super_Rugby" title="Super Rugby">Super Rugby</a> competition in rugby union, expanded their domestic competitions in 1996 to include teams from both sides. <a href="/wiki/Football_Federation_Australia" class="mw-redirect" title="Football Federation Australia">Football Federation Australia</a> revamped its flagship competition, the <a href="/wiki/A-League" class="mw-redirect" title="A-League">A-League</a>, to focus on a more nationally balanced competition in 2005. However, its current composition reflects <a href="/wiki/Soccer_in_Australia" title="Soccer in Australia">association football's</a> participation and growth per capita, which is by far strongest in the east (where it faces less competition with Australian rules).<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Current_status">Current status</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Current status"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Australian_rules_football_in_Australia" title="Australian rules football in Australia">Australian rules football</a> is now the most popular football code to the west and south, including the capitals of <a href="/wiki/Melbourne" title="Melbourne">Melbourne</a>, Perth, <a href="/wiki/Adelaide" title="Adelaide">Adelaide</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hobart" title="Hobart">Hobart</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Darwin,_Northern_Territory" title="Darwin, Northern Territory">Darwin</a> while <a href="/wiki/Rugby_league_in_Australia" title="Rugby league in Australia">rugby league</a> is more popular on the eastern side, including the capitals of <a href="/wiki/Sydney" title="Sydney">Sydney</a>, <a href="/wiki/Brisbane" title="Brisbane">Brisbane</a> and <a href="/wiki/Canberra" title="Canberra">Canberra</a>. Each side represents roughly half of the Australian population due to the concentration of the population on the <a href="/wiki/Eastern_states_of_Australia" title="Eastern states of Australia">east coast</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In many areas the other side's sport remains virtually unknown, lacking any meaningful media profile or awareness. The football culture is significantly ingrained such that it even has an influence on Australians' movement throughout the country.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These "insurmountable cultural barriers" have created a significant challenge for each code's national development.<sup id="cite_ref-afl-to-senate_29-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-afl-to-senate-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Physical_representation">Physical representation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Physical representation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Barassi Line is symbolically marked on Federation Way between the towns of <a href="/wiki/Corowa" title="Corowa">Corowa</a> and <a href="/wiki/Wahgunyah" title="Wahgunyah">Wahgunyah</a> near the New South Wales—Victoria state border at the <a href="/wiki/Murray_River" title="Murray River">Murray River</a>. Two sets of Australian rules football goal posts are aligned diagonally on either side of the road, with a sign located nearby explaining the site.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The set of goal posts were installed in 2005 as part of work associated with the Centenary of Federation funded bridge and bypass road, and was opened on 5 April 2005 by the Federal Member for Farrer, <a href="/wiki/Sussan_Ley" title="Sussan Ley">Sussan Ley</a> on behalf of Prime Minister <a href="/wiki/John_Howard" title="John Howard">John Howard</a>. Barassi himself visited the site in October 2012 on the occasion of installation of new signage by the <a href="/wiki/Shire_of_Indigo" title="Shire of Indigo">Indigo Shire</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="League_structures_and_expansions">League structures and expansions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: League structures and expansions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The pursuit of national exposure for sports is influenced by the ratings systems used by Australian television. By the late 1980s, the main football codes in Australia realised that in order to garner the desired high national ratings, and increase the value of their product for television broadcast deals and corporate sponsors, they needed to maximise their national exposure.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-theaustralian_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theaustralian-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This meant heavy investment in grassroots development and in the support of clubs on the "other" side of the Barassi Line. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Australian_rules_football">Australian rules football</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Australian rules football"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1990, the Victorian Football League changed its name to the <a href="/wiki/Australian_Football_League" title="Australian Football League">Australian Football League</a> (AFL) to pursue a more national focus. A major reason for the expansion into these non-traditional areas has been to increase both the number of games played each week, and the potential television audience. This resulted in income from <a href="/wiki/Television_rights" class="mw-redirect" title="Television rights">television rights</a> rising dramatically.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Pay2Play_35-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pay2Play-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> From the <a href="/wiki/1997_AFL_season" title="1997 AFL season">1997 AFL season</a>, six of sixteen AFL clubs (<a href="/wiki/Sydney_Swans" title="Sydney Swans">Sydney</a>, <a href="/wiki/Brisbane_Lions" title="Brisbane Lions">Brisbane Lions</a>, <a href="/wiki/West_Coast_Eagles" title="West Coast Eagles">West Coast</a>, <a href="/wiki/Adelaide_Football_Club" title="Adelaide Football Club">Adelaide</a>, <a href="/wiki/Fremantle_Football_Club" title="Fremantle Football Club">Fremantle</a> and <a href="/wiki/Port_Adelaide_Football_Club" title="Port Adelaide Football Club">Port Adelaide</a>) were based outside Victoria, with two (Sydney and Brisbane) on the rugby league side of the Barassi Line. Barassi's prophecy of a national Australian rules football league with four teams in New South Wales and Queensland has since been fulfilled with the establishment of <a href="/wiki/Gold_Coast_Suns" title="Gold Coast Suns">Gold Coast</a> and <a href="/wiki/Greater_Western_Sydney_Giants" title="Greater Western Sydney Giants">Greater Western Sydney</a> in 2011 and 2012 respectively. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Australian_Capital_Territory">Australian Capital Territory</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Australian Capital Territory"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Australian_rules_football_in_the_Australian_Capital_Territory" title="Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory">Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory</a></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1224211176">.mw-parser-output .quotebox{background-color:#F9F9F9;border:1px solid #aaa;box-sizing:border-box;padding:10px;font-size:88%;max-width:100%}.mw-parser-output .quotebox.floatleft{margin:.5em 1.4em .8em 0}.mw-parser-output .quotebox.floatright{margin:.5em 0 .8em 1.4em}.mw-parser-output .quotebox.centered{overflow:hidden;position:relative;margin:.5em auto .8em auto}.mw-parser-output .quotebox.floatleft span,.mw-parser-output .quotebox.floatright span{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .quotebox>blockquote{margin:0;padding:0;border-left:0;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit}.mw-parser-output .quotebox-title{text-align:center;font-size:110%;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .quotebox-quote>:first-child{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .quotebox-quote:last-child>:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.mw-parser-output .quotebox-quote.quoted:before{font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-weight:bold;font-size:large;color:gray;content:" “ ";vertical-align:-45%;line-height:0}.mw-parser-output .quotebox-quote.quoted:after{font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-weight:bold;font-size:large;color:gray;content:" ” ";line-height:0}.mw-parser-output .quotebox .left-aligned{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .quotebox .right-aligned{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .quotebox .center-aligned{text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .quotebox .quote-title,.mw-parser-output .quotebox .quotebox-quote{display:block}.mw-parser-output .quotebox cite{display:block;font-style:normal}@media screen and (max-width:640px){.mw-parser-output .quotebox{width:100%!important;margin:0 0 .8em!important;float:none!important}}</style><div class="quotebox pullquote floatright" style="width:30%; ;"> <blockquote class="quotebox-quote left-aligned" style=""> <p>"Canberra have their own [AFL] team, the GWS Giants. They play a number of games down here." </p> </blockquote> <div style="padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0.5em"><cite class="left-aligned" style="">AFL CEO <a href="/wiki/Gillon_McLachlan" title="Gillon McLachlan">Gillon McLachlan</a>, 2015, responding in Canberra to the questions from the media on why Canberra doesn't have an AFL team.<sup id="cite_ref-theage1_36-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theage1-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></div> </div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Manuka_Oval.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Manuka_Oval.JPG/220px-Manuka_Oval.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Manuka_Oval.JPG/330px-Manuka_Oval.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Manuka_Oval.JPG/440px-Manuka_Oval.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1200" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Manuka_Oval" title="Manuka Oval">Manuka Oval</a>, home of the code in the ACT. The <a href="/wiki/Greater_Western_Sydney_Giants" title="Greater Western Sydney Giants">Greater Western Sydney Giants</a> draw higher average attendances here than at their primary home ground, <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Showground_Stadium" title="Sydney Showground Stadium">Giants Stadium</a> in <a href="/wiki/Sydney" title="Sydney">Sydney</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was once seen as one of the dividing points of the Barassi Line. In 1981, the <a href="/wiki/AFL_Canberra" title="AFL Canberra">Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League</a> had just begun to edge out rugby league in popularity with an increase in participation, and the first calls were made for the VFL to become a national competition.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Under significant pressure from rugby league junior development in the territory and fearing the impact on its strong local competition of entry of a Sydney team, a formal bid for a license to enter a <a href="/wiki/Canberra" title="Canberra">Canberra</a> team into the VFL was made. The VFL dismissed it, stating it would consider Canberra for a license "within the next 10 years".<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The league was insistent that the license should go to <a href="/wiki/Sydney" title="Sydney">Sydney</a>, which it believed had a much larger potential broadcast audience. The following year, the <a href="/wiki/New_South_Wales_Rugby_League" title="New South Wales Rugby League">New South Wales Rugby League</a> entered the Canberra market with a new club, the <a href="/wiki/Canberra_Raiders" title="Canberra Raiders">Canberra Raiders</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The long-term impact of the lack of an AFL club and the introduction of the Raiders saw Australian rules football fall from marginally most popular to least popular of the football codes. Subsequent bids for a Canberra team were rejected by the VFL in 1981, 1986 and 1988, and then by the AFL in 1990 and 1993. </p><p>The AFL began playing matches at the newly developed <a href="/wiki/Canberra_Stadium" title="Canberra Stadium">Bruce Stadium</a> as 1990 with a view of it being the future home of the sport. However, politician and former Canberra Raiders rugby league player <a href="/wiki/Paul_Osborne" title="Paul Osborne">Paul Osborne</a> began a successful campaign to exclude the AFL from the expanding stadium which ultimately resulted in its conversion into a rectangular field in 1997, effectively putting an end to any future ACT AFL bids.<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Following this setback, the AFL preferred its existing clubs—most notably <a href="/wiki/North_Melbourne_Football_Club" title="North Melbourne Football Club">North Melbourne</a>—to sell their home games to <a href="/wiki/Manuka_Oval" title="Manuka Oval">Manuka Oval</a>. AFL clubs have done so since 2002; however, they have refrained from committing to the market long-term.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 2012, the <a href="/wiki/Greater_Western_Sydney_Giants" title="Greater Western Sydney Giants">Greater Western Sydney Giants</a> signed a 10-year deal with the <a href="/wiki/Government_of_the_Australian_Capital_Territory" title="Government of the Australian Capital Territory">ACT Government</a> worth $23 million, which resulted in the club playing four home games in Canberra each season. The Giants draw higher average attendances at Manuka Oval in Canberra than at their home ground, <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Showground_Stadium" title="Sydney Showground Stadium">Giants Stadium</a> in Sydney. In 2015, in response to questions relating to a proposed Canberra team, then AFL CEO <a href="/wiki/Gillon_McLachlan" title="Gillon McLachlan">Gillon McLachlan</a> stated that "Canberra have their own team, the Giants". The AFL also claimed that Manuka Oval needed to be upgraded in order for the league to commit further to the market.<sup id="cite_ref-theage1_36-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theage1-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> After a failed $800 million stadium upgrade proposal, the AFL stated that the Giants–Canberra deal would continue regardless of if the redevelopment occurs.<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A significant share of Giants members are from the ACT; the figure was 5,800 in 2022.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2015, the Giants set a target to overtake the Raiders membership and have more than 10,000 members by 2018.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, this failed, and the Raiders membership has rapidly outpaced it. Despite this, the deal was extended by the ACT government and the AFL to 2032 for three AFL matches and one AFLW match.<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>According to Tweedie's 2022 study, the ACT remains behind the Barassi Line,<sup id="cite_ref-Tweedie_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Tweedie-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> though participation has increased substantially since 2016 and GWS sold out three successive games during the <a href="/wiki/2024_AFL_season" title="2024 AFL season">2024 AFL season</a>. The AFL is now challenging rugby union's Brumbies for popularity.<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but is facing continued growth in popularity of rugby league and soccer.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2025)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Inadequate ageing infrastructure continues a significant deterrent to any future AFL expansion there.<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="New_South_Wales">New South Wales</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: New South Wales"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Australian_rules_football_in_New_South_Wales" title="Australian rules football in New South Wales">Australian rules football in New South Wales</a></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Australian_rules_football_in_the_Riverina" title="Australian rules football in the Riverina">Australian rules football in the Riverina</a></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1224211176" /><div class="quotebox pullquote floatright" style="width:30%; ;"> <blockquote class="quotebox-quote left-aligned" style=""> <p>"The NRL is stronger here now than when the Giants started. As someone who worked in head office in Docklands for 15 years I thought I understood Sydney. I had national responsibility for game development, but I didn’t realise how naive I was." </p> </blockquote> <div style="padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0.5em"><cite class="left-aligned" style="">Dave Matthews, head of the GWS Giants in April 2023.<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></div> </div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:GWS_Giants_Inaugural_Banner,_March_24,_2012.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="GWS Giants Inaugural Banner, 24 March 2012" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/GWS_Giants_Inaugural_Banner%2C_March_24%2C_2012.jpg/250px-GWS_Giants_Inaugural_Banner%2C_March_24%2C_2012.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/GWS_Giants_Inaugural_Banner%2C_March_24%2C_2012.jpg/330px-GWS_Giants_Inaugural_Banner%2C_March_24%2C_2012.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/GWS_Giants_Inaugural_Banner%2C_March_24%2C_2012.jpg/500px-GWS_Giants_Inaugural_Banner%2C_March_24%2C_2012.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3264" data-file-height="2448" /></a><figcaption>Banner at the inaugural <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Derby_(AFL)" title="Sydney Derby (AFL)">Sydney Derby</a> between <a href="/wiki/Greater_Western_Sydney_Giants" title="Greater Western Sydney Giants">Greater Western Sydney</a> and <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Swans" title="Sydney Swans">Sydney</a> in 2012, heralding the <a href="/wiki/Australian_Football_League" title="Australian Football League">Australian Football League</a>'s 'giant leap' in <a href="/wiki/New_South_Wales" title="New South Wales">New South Wales</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>Encouraged by the VFL, the <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Swans" title="Sydney Swans">South Melbourne Football Club</a> relocated to Sydney and became the <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Swans" title="Sydney Swans">Sydney Swans</a> in 1982. The club endured limited success and a series of <a href="/wiki/Wooden_spoon_(award)" title="Wooden spoon (award)">wooden spoons</a> in their first decade in Sydney before turning a corner in the mid-1990s, culminating in premierships in <a href="/wiki/2005_AFL_Grand_Final" title="2005 AFL Grand Final">2005</a> and <a href="/wiki/2012_AFL_Grand_Final" title="2012 AFL Grand Final">2012</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The lack of public support in Sydney caused significant financial losses to the club and league during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Excluding a period of privatisation, despite significant loans and writedowns to the club, the league declared the Sydney Swans insolvent in 1984 and again in 1988.<sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1992, the 15 other AFL clubs were asked to vote on expelling the Swans due to its inability to survive in Sydney.<sup id="cite_ref-Swans_deathbed_54-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Swans_deathbed-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> AFL clubs were left with little other option but to commit to subsidising the club to maintain an audience in Sydney.<sup id="cite_ref-Swans_deathbed_54-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Swans_deathbed-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These subsidies were increased until the Swans became viable in the long term. This long-term sustainability was initially aided by a <a href="/wiki/1996_AFL_Grand_Final" title="1996 AFL Grand Final">grand final appearance in 1996</a> and fallout from the <a href="/wiki/Super_League_war" title="Super League war">Super League war</a> on rugby league. </p><p>In addition to promoting the Swans, the AFL attempted to use <a href="/wiki/Auskick" title="Auskick">Auskick</a> participation as a tool to increase awareness in the Sydney market by introducing a generation of children to the sport; however, the success of this strategy has been criticised. The AFL commissioned a study in 2012 by David Lawson, a <a href="/wiki/University_of_Melbourne" title="University of Melbourne">Melbourne University</a> academic, that found that contrary to reports by the league, club participation rates in Sydney had actually stalled, and that the AFL was masking low figures by using short-term, non-club-affiliated Auskick participants and comparing them to competitive junior club participation numbers in other sports.<sup id="cite_ref-alffakedfiguresauskick_55-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-alffakedfiguresauskick-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The league was also accused of faking registration figures in an attempt to gain access to Sydney playing fields.<sup id="cite_ref-alffakedfigures_56-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-alffakedfigures-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The AFL introduced a second New South Wales team, the <a href="/wiki/Greater_Western_Sydney_Giants" title="Greater Western Sydney Giants">Greater Western Sydney Giants</a>, in 2012, subsidised with millions of dollars of investment and a generational vision to grow into the <a href="/wiki/Greater_Western_Sydney" title="Greater Western Sydney">Greater Western Sydney</a> region. AFL CEO <a href="/wiki/Andrew_Demetriou" title="Andrew Demetriou">Andrew Demetriou</a> predicted that it would take "20 to 30 years" for GWS to become a "powerhouse club" in terms of support drawing from a potential supporter base of over 2 million people.<sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The league helped secure AFL legend coach <a href="/wiki/Kevin_Sheedy_(Australian_footballer)" title="Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)">Kevin Sheedy</a> to help initially establish the club.<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As part of its effort to win over rugby league followers in Sydney, the AFL recruited rugby league star <a href="/wiki/Israel_Folau" title="Israel Folau">Israel Folau</a>, who had not even heard of the sport, using a promotional salary of more than $6 million over four years. Folau broke his AFL contract after just one season and his conversion was criticised by the media as a failed promotional exercise.<sup id="cite_ref-59" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The strategic success of the Giants franchise has been widely questioned.<sup id="cite_ref-Two_Sydneys_61-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Two_Sydneys-61"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>61<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Despite a <a href="/wiki/2019_AFL_Grand_Final" title="2019 AFL Grand Final">grand final appearance in 2019</a>, the club's Sydney audience failed to grow,<sup id="cite_ref-Two_Sydneys_61-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Two_Sydneys-61"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>61<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> especially among working class rugby league fans. Though in 2021, a fall in the popularity of rugby union and the <a href="/wiki/NSW_Waratahs" class="mw-redirect" title="NSW Waratahs">NSW Waratahs</a> saw many union fans switch to the Swans, further establishing it as a sports club of choice for Sydney's wealthy.<sup id="cite_ref-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The AFL began zone and academy recruitment programs, fostering talented young players from clubs in <a href="/wiki/Riverina" title="Riverina">the Riverina</a> (where the code retains a strong following) to Sydney and helping the code to recruit talented athletes from metropolitan areas. In addition to the growth of the game in Sydney, this grassroots expansion has contributed to the Barassi Line moving slightly further north of the border.<sup id="cite_ref-Poking_its_Tongue_63-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Poking_its_Tongue-63"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>63<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, the long campaign to lift the sport's popularity in Sydney and New South Wales has been hindered by deep rooted cultural barriers, which even an <a href="/wiki/Australian_Senate" title="Australian Senate">Australian Senate</a> inquiry has described as insurmountable.<sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-64"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>64<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-afl-to-senate_29-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-afl-to-senate-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2023 and 2024, despite strong performances from the Giants and Swans, junior numbers are rapidly declining in Western Sydney with numerous junior clubs forced to fold or merge.<sup id="cite_ref-65" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The AFL provides an assistance package to keep both the Swans and GWS financially viable. In 2023 GWS received the highest amount of assistance - $25 million a year, while the Swans receive $5 million a year.<sup id="cite_ref-AFL_club_funding_10-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AFL_club_funding-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Queensland">Queensland</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Queensland"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Australian_rules_football_in_Queensland" title="Australian rules football in Queensland">Australian rules football in Queensland</a></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1224211176" /><div class="quotebox pullquote floatright" style="width:30%; ;"> <blockquote class="quotebox-quote left-aligned" style=""> <p>"The AFL is doing a great job, no doubt, and I take my hat off to them, but competition lifts all ships and their competition has lifted us. We now have the momentum in Queensland. We have reversed the momentum." </p> </blockquote> <div style="padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0.5em"><cite class="left-aligned" style=""><a href="/wiki/Australian_Rugby_League_Commission" title="Australian Rugby League Commission">Australian Rugby League Commission</a> chair <a href="/wiki/Peter_V%27landys" title="Peter V'landys">Peter V'landys</a> in 2023 on the AFL's growth in popularity in Queensland<sup id="cite_ref-66" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-66"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>66<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></div> </div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Adelaide_v_Gold_Coast_-_Carrara_media_facilities.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Adelaide_v_Gold_Coast_-_Carrara_media_facilities.jpg/220px-Adelaide_v_Gold_Coast_-_Carrara_media_facilities.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="154" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Adelaide_v_Gold_Coast_-_Carrara_media_facilities.jpg/330px-Adelaide_v_Gold_Coast_-_Carrara_media_facilities.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Adelaide_v_Gold_Coast_-_Carrara_media_facilities.jpg/440px-Adelaide_v_Gold_Coast_-_Carrara_media_facilities.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1018" data-file-height="714" /></a><figcaption>The <a href="/wiki/Gold_Coast_Suns" title="Gold Coast Suns">Gold Coast Suns</a> at the redeveloped Cararra Stadium in 2011.</figcaption></figure> <p>After existing in the shadow of rugby football for almost a century, interest in Australian rules and the <a href="/wiki/Queensland_Australian_Football_League" title="Queensland Australian Football League">Queensland Australian Football League</a> grew substantially in the 1970s and 1980s, aided by significant interstate migration. The <a href="/wiki/Brisbane_Bears" title="Brisbane Bears">Brisbane Bears</a> were founded as the VFL's first privately owned expansion team in 1986, initially based on the Gold Coast. It suffered enormously with the introduction of the <a href="/wiki/Brisbane_Broncos" title="Brisbane Broncos">Brisbane Broncos</a>, a rugby league expansion club based in the state's capital specifically created to deny the Bears and the VFL a market.<sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-67"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>67<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Bears performed poorly on-field, including back-to-back wooden spoons in 1990 and 1991. Poor support for the club in both Gold Coast and Brisbane saw it run into financial difficulties despite significant AFL subsidies and concessions. With their demise imminent, the AFL intervened and forced a merger with the historic Melbourne-based club <a href="/wiki/Fitzroy_Football_Club" title="Fitzroy Football Club">Fitzroy</a> in 1996. </p><p>The newly formed <a href="/wiki/Brisbane_Lions" title="Brisbane Lions">Brisbane Lions</a> were vastly more successful, becoming the first triple-premiership winner in 46 years, winning back-to-back in 2001, 2002 and 2003.<sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-68"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>68<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The success of the Lions contributed to a boom in the sport across the major Queensland cities. </p><p>On the back of the code's subsequent growth, the AFL pushed heavily for a permanent presence on the <a href="/wiki/Gold_Coast,_Queensland" title="Gold Coast, Queensland">Gold Coast</a>, and despite failed attempts to relocate an existing club, granted a new license to the <a href="/wiki/Gold_Coast_Football_Club" class="mw-redirect" title="Gold Coast Football Club">Gold Coast Football Club</a> in 2009. As part of its effort to win over rugby league followers in Queensland, the AFL recruited rugby league star <a href="/wiki/Karmichael_Hunt" title="Karmichael Hunt">Karmichael Hunt</a> using a promotional salary of more than $3.2 million.<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-69"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>69<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The AFL considered Hunt's promotional recruitment "a good investment" despite his return to rugby league.<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-70"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>70<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>While the AFL has gained market share in the major cities, the Barassi Line has barely moved in Queensland. A notable exception is the expansion of <a href="/wiki/AFL_Mount_Isa" class="mw-redirect" title="AFL Mount Isa">AFL Mount Isa</a> in the state's west to include the outback <a href="/wiki/Dajarra,_Queensland" title="Dajarra, Queensland">Dajarra</a> Rhinos team in 2018, the only senior club of any code within hundreds of kilometres of the state border. Rugby league remains otherwise entrenched at the grassroots across the state.<sup id="cite_ref-71" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-71"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>71<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Lions and Suns generally only receive support from the Queensland public when they are performing well, and as such require significant concessions from the AFL to remain viable.<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>72<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Lions, in particular, in 2023 had the competition's highest level of debt requiring more than $18 million a year in assistance from the AFL, while the Suns receive the highest amount of assistance - $25 million a year - to stay solvent.<sup id="cite_ref-AFL_club_funding_10-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AFL_club_funding-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 2023, the <a href="/wiki/Far_North_Queensland" title="Far North Queensland">Far North Queensland</a> city of <a href="/wiki/Cairns,_Queensland" class="mw-redirect" title="Cairns, Queensland">Cairns</a> entered an official bid for the AFL's 20th license with a team based out of a redeveloped <a href="/wiki/Cazaly%27s_Stadium" class="mw-redirect" title="Cazaly's Stadium">Cazaly's Stadium</a>, vying with a <a href="/wiki/Darwin,_Northern_Territory" title="Darwin, Northern Territory">Darwin</a>-based club for entry by 2030.<sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-74"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>74<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The stadium has hosted at least one AFL premiership match every year since 2011, with an average attendance of 7,120.<sup id="cite_ref-75" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-75"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While Cairns' population is higher than Darwin's, AFL attendances and overall participation are lower and a Cairns-based club would also compete for market share with the Townsville-based <a href="/wiki/North_Queensland_Cowboys" title="North Queensland Cowboys">North Queensland Cowboys</a> and would likely require a similar AFL assistance package to the Lions and Suns. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Rugby_league">Rugby league</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Rugby league"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Rugby_league_in_Victoria" title="Rugby league in Victoria">Rugby league in Victoria</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rugby_league_in_South_Australia" title="Rugby league in South Australia">Rugby league in South Australia</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rugby_league_in_Western_Australia" title="Rugby league in Western Australia">Rugby league in Western Australia</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Rugby_league_in_the_Northern_Territory" title="Rugby league in the Northern Territory">Rugby league in the Northern Territory</a></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1224211176" /><div class="quotebox pullquote floatright" style="width:30%; ;"> <blockquote class="quotebox-quote left-aligned" style=""> <p>"The fabric of rugby league is built on tribalism and rivalry. That’s why we can’t rule out [a second Melbourne team]. The other reason why a second Melbourne team is good for us, is that our junior base in Victoria has expanded considerably" </p> </blockquote> <div style="padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0.5em"><cite class="left-aligned" style=""><a href="/wiki/Australian_Rugby_League_Commission" title="Australian Rugby League Commission">Australian Rugby League Commission</a> chair <a href="/wiki/Peter_V%27landys" title="Peter V'landys">Peter V'landys</a> in 2023 on NRL expansion in Victoria and the addition of a second team<sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>76<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></div> </div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Players_of_Melbourne_Storm_after_the_2007_NRL_grand_final.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Players_of_Melbourne_Storm_after_the_2007_NRL_grand_final.jpg/220px-Players_of_Melbourne_Storm_after_the_2007_NRL_grand_final.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Players_of_Melbourne_Storm_after_the_2007_NRL_grand_final.jpg/330px-Players_of_Melbourne_Storm_after_the_2007_NRL_grand_final.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Players_of_Melbourne_Storm_after_the_2007_NRL_grand_final.jpg/440px-Players_of_Melbourne_Storm_after_the_2007_NRL_grand_final.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2816" data-file-height="2112" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Storm" title="Melbourne Storm">Melbourne Storm</a> players after the <a href="/wiki/2007_NRL_Grand_Final" title="2007 NRL Grand Final">2007 Grand Final</a>. This premiership, among other team achievements, was later stripped from them due to <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Storm_salary_cap_breach" title="Melbourne Storm salary cap breach">salary cap breaches</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>Apart from occasional visiting teams and false starts the Rugby league's local presence was virtually nonexistent behind the Barassi line until 1950 when the <a href="/wiki/Northern_Territory_Rugby_Football_League_Association" class="mw-redirect" title="Northern Territory Rugby Football League Association">Northern Territory Rugby Football League Association</a> was founded in Darwin, followed by the <a href="/wiki/South_Australian_Rugby_League" class="mw-redirect" title="South Australian Rugby League">South Australian Rugby League</a> in Adelaide in 1976. Rugby league's expansion across the Barassi line has been driven primarily from the top down by professional franchises and benefited in part from its familiarity with rugby union.<sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-77"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>77<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 1995, the <a href="/wiki/Australian_Rugby_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Australian Rugby League">Australian Rugby League</a> (ARL) created four new expansion teams including one in Perth, resulting in the first major rugby league club based on the Australian rules football side of the Barassi Line, the <a href="/wiki/WA_Reds" title="WA Reds">Western Reds</a>. By the time the breakaway <a href="/wiki/Super_League_war" title="Super League war">Super League</a> started in 1997, it had begun establishing more clubs on the opposite side of the line. The <a href="/wiki/Adelaide_Rams" title="Adelaide Rams">Adelaide Rams</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Storm" title="Melbourne Storm">Melbourne Storm</a> were due to start in the 1998 Super League season, but in the meantime, the opposing leagues made restitution and established the <a href="/wiki/National_Rugby_League" title="National Rugby League">National Rugby League</a> (NRL).<sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-78"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>78<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Part of the agreement to form a new league included a reduction of clubs in the league, especially those recently established in difficult markets, resulting in the disbanding of the clubs in Perth and Adelaide.<sup id="cite_ref-79" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-79"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>79<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Storm continued with success in the new competition, achieving their first premiership win in <a href="/wiki/1999_NRL_Grand_Final" title="1999 NRL Grand Final">1999</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-80" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-80"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>80<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>When a Melbourne NRL side was proposed in 1997, Barassi stated to the media, "I've always thought rugby league would be a success in Melbourne. They've got to start down here sometime and the earlier the better. Melburnians love their sport and I'm sure they'd get behind rugby league. But they won't accept rubbish and that's the key to it."<sup id="cite_ref-81" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-81"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>81<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In the aftermath of the <a href="/wiki/Super_League_war" title="Super League war">Super League war</a>, the NRL became very reluctant to expand.<sup id="cite_ref-82" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-82"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>82<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-83" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-83"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>83<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-84" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-84"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>84<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-85" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-85"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>85<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-86" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-86"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>86<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Commissioner chairman <a href="/wiki/Peter_V%27landys" title="Peter V'landys">Peter V'landys</a> signalled that the competition was focused on creating a second team in Brisbane (which became the <a href="/wiki/Dolphins_(NRL)" title="Dolphins (NRL)">Dolphins</a>), instead of investing money into AFL states such as <a href="/wiki/Western_Australia" title="Western Australia">Western Australia</a>, which "don't have a huge audience" for rugby league.<sup id="cite_ref-87" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-87"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>87<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1224211176" /><div class="quotebox pullquote floatright" style="width:30%; ;"> <blockquote class="quotebox-quote left-aligned" style=""> <p>"Perth are absolutely on our hit list for expansion and it’s sooner rather than later..." </p> </blockquote> <div style="padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0.5em"><cite class="left-aligned" style=""><a href="/wiki/Australian_Rugby_League_Commission" title="Australian Rugby League Commission">Australian Rugby League Commission</a> chair <a href="/wiki/Peter_V%27landys" title="Peter V'landys">Peter V'landys</a> in 2024 on NRL expansion in Western Australia<sup id="cite_ref-foxsports.com.au_88-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-foxsports.com.au-88"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>88<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></div> </div> <p>Melbourne remains the sole NRL club on the other side of the line. <a href="/wiki/Perth" title="Perth">Perth</a> is the only current expansion bid, the consortia chaired by Peter Cummins has been active since 2012,<sup id="cite_ref-89" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> though some see it as only possible to maintain a national supporter base if merged with that of another bid by a Sydney club, such as that of the <a href="/wiki/North_Sydney_Bears" title="North Sydney Bears">North Sydney Bears</a> (known as the "<a href="/wiki/Western_Bears" title="Western Bears">Western Bears</a>" bid).<sup id="cite_ref-90" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-foxsports.com.au_88-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-foxsports.com.au-88"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>88<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The ARL continues to use the <a href="/wiki/State_of_Origin_series" title="State of Origin series">State of Origin series</a> as a promotional tool across the Barassi line, hosting more than eight Origin matches in Melbourne since 1990, two in Perth since 2019, and two in Adelaide since 2020, though some have criticised the promotional value of hosting it outside of its heartland.<sup id="cite_ref-91" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-91"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>91<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Rugby_union">Rugby union</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Rugby union"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Rugby_union_in_Victoria" title="Rugby union in Victoria">Rugby union in Victoria</a> and <a href="/wiki/Rugby_union_in_Western_Australia" title="Rugby union in Western Australia">Rugby union in Western Australia</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Force_runout_lightened.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Force_runout_lightened.jpg/220px-Force_runout_lightened.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="168" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Force_runout_lightened.jpg/330px-Force_runout_lightened.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Force_runout_lightened.jpg/440px-Force_runout_lightened.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2100" data-file-height="1600" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Western_Force" title="Western Force">Western Force</a> running out for their first game home game at <a href="/wiki/Subiaco_Oval" title="Subiaco Oval">Subiaco Oval</a> in 2006.</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1224211176" /><div class="quotebox pullquote floatright" style="width:30%; ;"> <blockquote class="quotebox-quote left-aligned" style=""> <p>"Rugby needs to be national and needs the pathways West Australia and Victoria bring, but there’s an argument our talent pool of players and coaches is spread too thin over five sides." </p> </blockquote> <div style="padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0.5em"><cite class="left-aligned" style="">Rugby commentator <a href="/wiki/Morgan_Turinui" title="Morgan Turinui">Morgan Turinui</a> in 2023 on Super Rugby's chronic struggles across the Barassi line<sup id="cite_ref-92" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-92"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>92<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></div> </div> <p>Rugby union has also attempted to expand on the Australian football side of line, with mixed results. Western Australia, and Perth in particular, is a market which has had strong historical grassroots support. This is due primarily to a strong expatriate presence, particularly of <a href="/wiki/Anglo-Celtic_Australians" title="Anglo-Celtic Australians">Anglo-Celtic Australians</a>, <a href="/wiki/South_African_Australians" title="South African Australians">South African Australians</a> and <a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_Australians" title="New Zealand Australians">New Zealand Australians</a> for whom rugby is generationally popular.<sup id="cite_ref-Business_News_93-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Business_News-93"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>93<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While grassroots rugby participation is statistically lower in Victoria and Melbourne, it too has a statistically significant population of expatriates from which to draw support.<sup id="cite_ref-94" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-94"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>94<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Shortly after the sport went professional in August 1995, the <a href="/wiki/Australian_Rugby_Union" class="mw-redirect" title="Australian Rugby Union">Australian Rugby Union</a> (ARU) joined forces with the <a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_Rugby" title="New Zealand Rugby">New Zealand Rugby Football Union</a> and <a href="/wiki/South_African_Rugby_Union" title="South African Rugby Union">South African Rugby Union</a> to create the Super 12 competition. It began in <a href="/wiki/1996_Super_12_season" title="1996 Super 12 season">1996</a> with five regional franchises from New Zealand, four provincial teams from South Africa, and three state/territory teams from Australia. The three Australian teams were all in rugby territory. For the <a href="/wiki/2006_Super_14_season" title="2006 Super 14 season">2006</a>, with the competition then becoming the Super 14, significantly, the new Australian team, the <a href="/wiki/Western_Force" title="Western Force">Western Force</a>, was based in Perth.<sup id="cite_ref-Business_News_93-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Business_News-93"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>93<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The following year, the ARU sought to create a national domestic competition, launching the <a href="/wiki/Australian_Rugby_Championship" title="Australian Rugby Championship">Australian Rugby Championship</a> (ARC). It launched with eight teams, with the <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Rebels_(ARC)" class="mw-redirect" title="Melbourne Rebels (ARC)">Melbourne Rebels</a> and <a href="/wiki/Perth_Spirit" title="Perth Spirit">Perth Spirit</a> based on the opposite side of the line. However, the ARC lasted only one season.<sup id="cite_ref-95" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-95"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>95<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The next expansion of rugby union on the opposite side of the line came in <a href="/wiki/2011_Super_Rugby_season" title="2011 Super Rugby season">2011</a>, when the current <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Rebels" title="Melbourne Rebels">Melbourne Rebels</a> were added as Australia's fifth team in the newly renamed Super Rugby.<sup id="cite_ref-96" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-96"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>96<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 2013, the ARU announced that a new domestic competition, the <a href="/wiki/National_Rugby_Championship" title="National Rugby Championship">National Rugby Championship</a> (NRC), would start play in 2014. Of its nine inaugural teams, two were across the line: <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Rising" title="Melbourne Rising">Melbourne Rising</a> and a revived Perth Spirit. Both Melbourne Rising and Perth Spirit made the finals series three times, and Perth won the NRC title in 2016. The NRC was last held in 2019. </p><p>Neither the Western Force nor the Melbourne Rebels have qualified for the finals series in either the Super 14 or Super Rugby. In 2017, the Western Force was cut from the Super Rugby competition for the 2018 season.<sup id="cite_ref-Western_Force_culled_from_Super_Rugby_competition_97-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Western_Force_culled_from_Super_Rugby_competition-97"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>97<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 2024, the Melbourne Rebels were axed after insurmountable financial debts and losses.<sup id="cite_ref-SMH30May24_15-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SMH30May24-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Current_situation">Current situation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Current situation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Four professional Australian football clubs, one rugby union club and one rugby league club exist on the non-traditional side of the Barassi Line. </p><p>An academic study conducted from 2007 to 2011 shows that the traditional divide remains evident between the two sections of the Barassi Line. The study found: </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>Results indicated demarcation of viewer loyalty to each code based on geographic boundaries, consistent with the existing notion of "the Barassi line". Both codes were shown to be largely reliant on traditional markets for driving television viewership figures, with little evidence to suggest either code expanded its national reach during the period, despite vastly contrasting broadcast strategies.</p><div class="templatequotecite">— <cite>Hunter Fujak<sup id="cite_ref-98" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-98"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>98<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></div></blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Australian_rules_football_east_of_the_line">Australian rules football east of the line</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Australian rules football east of the line"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Australian_Capital_Territory_2">Australian Capital Territory</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Australian Capital Territory"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/AFL_NSW/ACT" title="AFL NSW/ACT">AFL NSW/ACT</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Australian_Football_League" title="Australian Football League">Australian Football League (AFL)</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs (the GWS Giants play four home games per season at Manuka Oval as an unofficial second home)<sup id="cite_ref-99" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-99"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>99<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Proposed_VFL/AFL_clubs#National_Competition_proposals_(since_1980)" class="mw-redirect" title="Proposed VFL/AFL clubs">AFL expansion bid (1990)</a>: <a href="/wiki/Proposed_VFL/AFL_clubs#Australian_Capital_Territory_(1990)" class="mw-redirect" title="Proposed VFL/AFL clubs">"Australian Capital Territory"</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Proposed_VFL/AFL_clubs#National_Competition_proposals_(since_1980)" class="mw-redirect" title="Proposed VFL/AFL clubs">Proposed relocation of North Melbourne (2002)</a>: <a href="/wiki/Proposed_relocation_of_the_North_Melbourne_Football_Club#Sydney_and_Canberra" title="Proposed relocation of the North Melbourne Football Club">"Canberra Kangaroos"</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/AFL_Women%27s" title="AFL Women's">AFL Women's (AFLW)</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs (the GWS Giants since 2019 play some home games at Manuka Oval as an unofficial second home)<sup id="cite_ref-100" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-100"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>100<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="New_South_Wales_2">New South Wales</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: New South Wales"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/AFL_NSW/ACT" title="AFL NSW/ACT">AFL NSW/ACT</a> </p> <ul><li><i><b><a href="/wiki/Australian_Football_League" title="Australian Football League">Australian Football League (AFL)</a>:</b></i> <ul><li>1982–present: <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Swans" title="Sydney Swans">Sydney Swans</a></li> <li>2012–present: <a href="/wiki/Greater_Western_Sydney_Giants" title="Greater Western Sydney Giants">Greater Western Sydney Giants</a> <i>(Since 2012 play four home games per season in Canberra, ACT)</i> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Proposed_VFL/AFL_clubs#National_Competition_proposals_(since_1980)" class="mw-redirect" title="Proposed VFL/AFL clubs">Proposed relocation of Fitzroy (1980)</a>: <a href="/wiki/Proposed_mergers_and_relocations_of_the_Fitzroy_Football_Club#Sydney_Lions_(1980)" title="Proposed mergers and relocations of the Fitzroy Football Club">"Sydney Lions"</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Proposed_VFL/AFL_clubs#National_Competition_proposals_(since_1980)" class="mw-redirect" title="Proposed VFL/AFL clubs">Proposed relocation of North Melbourne (1999)</a>: <a href="/wiki/Proposed_relocation_of_the_North_Melbourne_Football_Club#Sydney_and_Canberra" title="Proposed relocation of the North Melbourne Football Club">"Sydney Kangaroos"</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> <li><i><b><a href="/wiki/AFL_Women%27s" title="AFL Women's">AFL Women's (AFLW)</a>:</b></i> <ul><li>2017–present: <a href="/wiki/Greater_Western_Sydney_Giants_(AFL_Women%27s)" class="mw-redirect" title="Greater Western Sydney Giants (AFL Women's)">Greater Western Sydney Giants (Women's)</a></li> <li>2023: <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Swans_(AFL_Women%27s)" class="mw-redirect" title="Sydney Swans (AFL Women's)">Sydney Swans (Women's)</a> (expansion team)</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Queensland_2">Queensland</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Queensland"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/AFL_Queensland" title="AFL Queensland">AFL Queensland</a> </p> <ul><li><i><b><a href="/wiki/Australian_Football_League" title="Australian Football League">Australian Football League (AFL)</a>:</b></i> <ul><li>1987–1996: <a href="/wiki/Brisbane_Bears" title="Brisbane Bears">Brisbane Bears</a></li> <li>1997–present: <a href="/wiki/Brisbane_Lions" title="Brisbane Lions">Brisbane Lions</a></li> <li>2011–present: <a href="/wiki/Gold_Coast_Football_Club" class="mw-redirect" title="Gold Coast Football Club">Gold Coast Suns</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Proposed_VFL/AFL_clubs#National_Competition_proposals_(since_1980)" class="mw-redirect" title="Proposed VFL/AFL clubs">Proposed relocation of Fitzroy (1986)</a>: <a href="/wiki/Proposed_mergers_and_relocations_of_the_Fitzroy_Football_Club#Relocation_and_merger_proposals_of_1986" title="Proposed mergers and relocations of the Fitzroy Football Club">"Brisbane Lions"</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Proposed_VFL/AFL_clubs#National_Competition_proposals_(since_1980)" class="mw-redirect" title="Proposed VFL/AFL clubs">AFL expansion bid (1996)</a>: <a href="/wiki/Southport_Australian_Football_Club" title="Southport Australian Football Club">Southport Sharks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Proposed_VFL/AFL_clubs#National_Competition_proposals_(since_1980)" class="mw-redirect" title="Proposed VFL/AFL clubs">Proposed relocation of North Melbourne (2007)</a>: <a href="/wiki/Proposed_relocation_of_the_North_Melbourne_Football_Club#Sydney_and_Canberra" title="Proposed relocation of the North Melbourne Football Club">"Gold Coast Kangaroos"</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/AFL_Women%27s" title="AFL Women's">AFL Women's (AFLW)</a>:</b> <ul><li>2017–present: <a href="/wiki/Brisbane_Lions_(AFL_Women%27s)" class="mw-redirect" title="Brisbane Lions (AFL Women's)">Brisbane Lions (Women's)</a></li> <li>2020–present: <a href="/wiki/Gold_Coast_Suns_(AFL_Women%27s)" class="mw-redirect" title="Gold Coast Suns (AFL Women's)">Gold Coast Suns (Women's)</a></li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Rugby_league_west_of_the_line">Rugby league west of the line</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Rugby league west of the line"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Northern_Territory">Northern Territory</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Northern Territory"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/Northern_Territory_Rugby_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Northern Territory Rugby League">Northern Territory Rugby League</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/National_Rugby_League" title="National Rugby League">National Rugby League (NRL)</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/NRL_Women%27s_Premiership" title="NRL Women's Premiership">NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW)</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="South_Australia">South Australia</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: South Australia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/South_Australia_Rugby_League" class="mw-redirect" title="South Australia Rugby League">South Australia Rugby League</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/National_Rugby_League" title="National Rugby League">National Rugby League (NRL)</a>:</b> <ul><li>1997–1998: <a href="/wiki/Adelaide_Rams" title="Adelaide Rams">Adelaide Rams</a></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/NRL_Women%27s_Premiership" title="NRL Women's Premiership">NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW)</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Tasmania">Tasmania</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Tasmania"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/Tasmanian_Rugby_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Tasmanian Rugby League">Tasmanian Rugby League</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/National_Rugby_League" title="National Rugby League">National Rugby League (NRL)</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/NRL_Women%27s_Premiership" title="NRL Women's Premiership">NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW)</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Victoria">Victoria</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Victoria"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/Victorian_Rugby_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Victorian Rugby League">Victorian Rugby League</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/National_Rugby_League" title="National Rugby League">National Rugby League (NRL)</a>:</b> <ul><li>1998–present: <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Storm" title="Melbourne Storm">Melbourne Storm</a></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/NRL_Women%27s_Premiership" title="NRL Women's Premiership">NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW)</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Western_Australia">Western Australia</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Western Australia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/Western_Australia_Rugby_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Western Australia Rugby League">Western Australia Rugby League</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/National_Rugby_League" title="National Rugby League">National Rugby League (NRL)</a>:</b> <ul><li>1995–1997: <a href="/wiki/WA_Reds" title="WA Reds">Perth Reds</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Expansion_of_the_National_Rugby_League#Next_expansion_period" title="Expansion of the National Rugby League">NRL expansion bid (2022)</a>: <a href="/wiki/West_Coast_Pirates" title="West Coast Pirates">West Coast Pirates</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Expansion_of_the_National_Rugby_League#Next_expansion_period" title="Expansion of the National Rugby League">NRL expansion bid (2022)</a>: <a href="/wiki/Expansion_of_the_National_Rugby_League#Western_Bears" title="Expansion of the National Rugby League">Western Bears</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/NRL_Women%27s_Premiership" title="NRL Women's Premiership">NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW)</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Rugby_union_west_of_the_line">Rugby union west of the line</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Rugby union west of the line"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Northern_Territory_2">Northern Territory</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: Northern Territory"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/Northern_Territory_Rugby_Union" title="Northern Territory Rugby Union">Northern Territory Rugby Union</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Super_Rugby" title="Super Rugby">Super Rugby</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Super_W" class="mw-redirect" title="Super W">Super W</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="South_Australia_2">South Australia</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: South Australia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/South_Australia_Rugby_Union" class="mw-redirect" title="South Australia Rugby Union">South Australia Rugby Union</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Super_Rugby" title="Super Rugby">Super Rugby</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Super_W" class="mw-redirect" title="Super W">Super W</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Tasmania_2">Tasmania</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: Tasmania"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/Tasmanian_Rugby_Union" title="Tasmanian Rugby Union">Tasmanian Rugby Union</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Super_Rugby" title="Super Rugby">Super Rugby</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Super_W" class="mw-redirect" title="Super W">Super W</a>:</b> <ul><li>No clubs</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Victoria_2">Victoria</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: Victoria"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing body:</b> <a href="/wiki/Victorian_Rugby_Union" class="mw-redirect" title="Victorian Rugby Union">Victorian Rugby Union</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Super_Rugby" title="Super Rugby">Super Rugby</a>:</b> <ul><li>2011–2024: <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Rebels" title="Melbourne Rebels">Melbourne Rebels</a></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Super_W" class="mw-redirect" title="Super W">Super W</a>:</b> <ul><li>2018–present: <a href="/wiki/Melbourne_Rebels_Women" title="Melbourne Rebels Women">Melbourne Rebels (Women's)</a></li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Western_Australia_2">Western Australia</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: Western Australia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Governing Body:</b> <a href="/wiki/RugbyWA" title="RugbyWA">RugbyWA</a> </p> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Super_Rugby" title="Super Rugby">Super Rugby</a>:</b> <ul><li>2006–2017, 2020–present: <a href="/wiki/Western_Force" title="Western Force">Western Force</a></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Super_W" class="mw-redirect" title="Super W">Super W</a>:</b> <ul><li>2018–present: <a href="/wiki/Western_Force_Women" title="Western Force Women">Western Force (Women's)</a></li> <li>2019–present: <a href="/wiki/Western_Force_Women" title="Western Force Women">RugbyWA (Women's)</a></li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Football_in_Australia" title="Football in Australia">Football in Australia</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Referenced in <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFHutchinson1983" class="citation book cs1">Hutchinson, Garrie (1983). <i>The Great Australian Book of Football Stories</i>. Melbourne: Currey O'Neil.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Great+Australian+Book+of+Football+Stories&rft.place=Melbourne&rft.pub=Currey+O%27Neil&rft.date=1983&rft.aulast=Hutchinson&rft.aufirst=Garrie&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/1F8FAC9C2C7B1623CA2568A900139417?opendocument">4174.0 - Sports Attendance, Australia, 2005-06</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110514005737/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/1F8FAC9C2C7B1623CA2568A900139417?opendocument">Archived</a> 14 May 2011 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>; Australian Bureau of Statistics; 25 January 2007: "Notably, the states and territories which had low attendance rates for rugby league had the highest attendance rates for Australian rules football."</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-researchgate-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-researchgate_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273772263">"The 'Barassi Line': Quantifying Australia's Great Sporting Divide"</a>. 21 December 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 August</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=The+%27Barassi+Line%27%3A+Quantifying+Australia%27s+Great+Sporting+Divide&rft.date=2013-12-21&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Fpublication%2F273772263&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-The_Barassi_Line:_a_globally_unique_divider_splitting_Australia’s_footy_fans-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-The_Barassi_Line:_a_globally_unique_divider_splitting_Australia’s_footy_fans_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://theconversation.com/the-barassi-line-a-globally-unique-divider-splitting-australias-footy-fans-185132">"The 'Barassi Line': Quantifying Australia's Great Sporting Divide"</a>. 15 July 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">25 July</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=The+%27Barassi+Line%27%3A+Quantifying+Australia%27s+Great+Sporting+Divide&rft.date=2022-07-15&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fthe-barassi-line-a-globally-unique-divider-splitting-australias-footy-fans-185132&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Marshall-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Marshall_5-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFMarshall2016" class="citation news cs1">Marshall, Konrad (26 February 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.smh.com.au/sport/where-do-rugby-codes-end-and-rules-begin-at-the-barassi-line-of-course-20160225-gn3lbe.html">"Where do rugby codes' strongholds turn to rules? At the 'Barassi Line', of course..."</a> <i>The Sydney Morning Herald</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">11 November</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Sydney+Morning+Herald&rft.atitle=Where+do+rugby+codes%27+strongholds+turn+to+rules%3F+At+the+%27Barassi+Line%27%2C+of+course...&rft.date=2016-02-26&rft.aulast=Marshall&rft.aufirst=Konrad&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smh.com.au%2Fsport%2Fwhere-do-rugby-codes-end-and-rules-begin-at-the-barassi-line-of-course-20160225-gn3lbe.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Tweedie-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Tweedie_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Tweedie_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://thepeoplesrepublicofcouch.org/the-barassi-line/">The Barassi Line</a> Brett Tweedie. December 2022</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2022-variable-funding-of-all-18-afl-clubs-rich-and-poor-clubs-profits-which-clubs-are-in-debt/news-story/20542933202b3591ae1756cba7181bd4">Funding of AFL clubs revealed in massive $100m gap from rich and poor</a> by Ben Cotton from Fox Sports 8 March 2022</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.footyindustry.com/nrl/nrl-finance/melbourne-storm-financials/">Melbourne Storm Financials</a> from FootyIndustry.com 5 October 2016</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.afr.com/companies/sport/melbourne-rebels-may-have-traded-insolvent-since-2018-pwc-20240425-p5fmi2">Melbourne Rebels may have traded insolvent since 2018: PwC</a> by Zoe Samios Business reporter 25 Apr 2024</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-AFL_club_funding-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-AFL_club_funding_10-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-AFL_club_funding_10-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-AFL_club_funding_10-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/winners-and-losers-the-2023-afl-club-funding-ladder-revealed-20230202-p5chix.html">Winners and losers: The 2023 AFL club funding ladder revealed</a> by Jake Niall for The Age 3 February 2023</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-22/brisbane-bears-and-how-afl-came-to-the-gold-coast/11769818">AFL sank its claws into Queensland thanks to Christopher Skase and the Brisbane Bears</a> By Solua Middleton ABC Gold Coast 22 March 2020</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2023-mark-geyer-matt-fuller-western-reds-legends-call-for-perth-team-the-mole-20230806-p5j6gp.html">'Stop the fight': Western Reds legends call for introduction of Perth-based NRL team</a> Nine Wide World of Sports 6 August 2023</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/what-happened-adelaide-rams-rugby-league%E2%80%99s-forgotten-club/dhoxbnc7coat1avveku2otrn">What happened to the Adelaide Rams? The formation and demise of rugby league’s forgotten club</a> by Kye Kuncoro for Sporting News 4 May 2023</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Fate of women's team still to be decided</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-SMH30May24-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-SMH30May24_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-SMH30May24_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFSarah_Danckert,_Iain_Payten_and_Carla_Jaeger2024" class="citation web cs1">Sarah Danckert, Iain Payten and Carla Jaeger (30 May 2024). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/melbourne-rebels-players-called-to-emergency-meeting-at-aami-park-20240530-p5jhul.html">"Battle looms as Rugby Australia slams rescue plan, shuts down Melbourne Rebels"</a>. <i>The Sydney Morning Herald</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Sydney+Morning+Herald&rft.atitle=Battle+looms+as+Rugby+Australia+slams+rescue+plan%2C+shuts+down+Melbourne+Rebels&rft.date=2024-05-30&rft.au=Sarah+Danckert%2C+Iain+Payten+and+Carla+Jaeger&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smh.com.au%2Fsport%2Frugby-union%2Fmelbourne-rebels-players-called-to-emergency-meeting-at-aami-park-20240530-p5jhul.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">D. B. Waterson, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160513b.htm">Turner, Ian Alexander Hamilton (1922 - 1978)</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091025102922/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160513b.htm">Archived</a> 25 October 2009 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>Australian Dictionary of Biography</i>, Volume 16, Melbourne University Press, 2002, pp 424-425.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFMain2002" class="citation book cs1">Main, Jim (2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=VcfoPAAACAAJ&q=1740950100"><i>Fallen, the Ultimate Heroes: Footballers who Never Returned from War</i></a>. Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1740950100" title="Special:BookSources/1740950100"><bdi>1740950100</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Fallen%2C+the+Ultimate+Heroes%3A+Footballers+who+Never+Returned+from+War&rft.place=Melbourne%2C+Victoria&rft.pub=Crown+Content&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=1740950100&rft.aulast=Main&rft.aufirst=Jim&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DVcfoPAAACAAJ%26q%3D1740950100&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Hess, Rob and Nicholson, Matthew. <i>Beyond the Barassi Line: The Origins and Diffusion of Football Codes in Australia</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFPennings2012" class="citation book cs1">Pennings, Mark (2012). <i>Origins of Australian Football: Victoria's Early History: Volume 1: Amateur Heroes and the Rise of Clubs, 1858 to 1876</i>. Connor Court Publishing. pp. <span class="nowrap">8–</span>10. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781921421471" title="Special:BookSources/9781921421471"><bdi>9781921421471</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Origins+of+Australian+Football%3A+Victoria%27s+Early+History%3A+Volume+1%3A+Amateur+Heroes+and+the+Rise+of+Clubs%2C+1858+to+1876&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E8-%3C%2Fspan%3E10&rft.pub=Connor+Court+Publishing&rft.date=2012&rft.isbn=9781921421471&rft.aulast=Pennings&rft.aufirst=Mark&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13169464">"FROM THE 3RD JULY TO THE 10TH JULY"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald" title="The Sydney Morning Herald">The Sydney Morning Herald</a></i>. Vol. LVIII, no. 9408. New South Wales, Australia. 15 July 1868. p. 5<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">1 May</span> 2022</span> – via National Library of Australia.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Sydney+Morning+Herald&rft.atitle=FROM+THE+3RD+JULY+TO+THE+10TH+JULY.&rft.volume=LVIII&rft.issue=9408&rft.pages=5&rft.date=1868-07-15&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnla.gov.au%2Fnla.news-article13169464&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFde_MooreHessNicholsonStewart2021" class="citation book cs1">de Moore, Greg; Hess, Rob; Nicholson, Matthew; Stewart, Bob (2021). <i>Australia's Game: The History of Australian Football</i>. Hardie Grant Books. p. 188. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781-74379-657-3" title="Special:BookSources/9781-74379-657-3"><bdi>9781-74379-657-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Australia%27s+Game%3A+The+History+of+Australian+Football&rft.pages=188&rft.pub=Hardie+Grant+Books&rft.date=2021&rft.isbn=9781-74379-657-3&rft.aulast=de+Moore&rft.aufirst=Greg&rft.au=Hess%2C+Rob&rft.au=Nicholson%2C+Matthew&rft.au=Stewart%2C+Bob&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Ronald Lawson, University of Queensland Press, 1973, page 203</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Wagga_History-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Wagga_History_23-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">A Brief History of Football in Wagga. The Riverina Weekender. 23 February 2013</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article178120317">"RUGBY IS OUSTING CODE IN RIVERINA"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Sporting_Globe" class="mw-redirect" title="Sporting Globe">Sporting Globe</a></i>. No. 2523. Victoria, Australia. 24 August 1946. p. 6 (Edition2)<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">25 September</span> 2022</span> – via National Library of Australia.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Sporting+Globe&rft.atitle=RUGBY+IS+OUSTING+CODE+IN+RIVERINA&rft.issue=2523&rft.pages=6+%28Edition2%29&rft.date=1946-08-24&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnla.gov.au%2Fnla.news-article178120317&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Warren2011-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Warren2011_25-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFJohnny_Warren2002" class="citation book cs1">Johnny Warren (2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=tHAbdB5JzgEC"><i>Sheilas, Wogs and Poofters</i></a>. Random House Australia. p. 179. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-74051-121-2" title="Special:BookSources/1-74051-121-2"><bdi>1-74051-121-2</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Sheilas%2C+Wogs+and+Poofters&rft.pages=179&rft.pub=Random+House+Australia&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=1-74051-121-2&rft.au=Johnny+Warren&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DtHAbdB5JzgEC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/research/ausplay/results">"Ausplay Research Football/soccer 2022"</a>. Clearinghouseforsport.gov.au<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 May</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Ausplay+Research+Football%2Fsoccer+2022&rft.pub=Clearinghouseforsport.gov.au&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au%2Fresearch%2Fausplay%2Fresults&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephen_Frawley2/publication/273772263_The_%27Barassi_Line%27_Quantifying_Australia%27s_Great_Sporting_Divide/links/58b5233d45851503bea059db/The-Barassi-Line-Quantifying-Australias-Great-Sporting-Divide.pdf">https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephen_Frawley2/publication/273772263_The_%27Barassi_Line%27_Quantifying_Australia%27s_Great_Sporting_Divide/links/58b5233d45851503bea059db/The-Barassi-Line-Quantifying-Australias-Great-Sporting-Divide.pdf</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171212193616/https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephen_Frawley2/publication/273772263_The_%27Barassi_Line%27_Quantifying_Australia%27s_Great_Sporting_Divide/links/58b5233d45851503bea059db/The-Barassi-Line-Quantifying-Australias-Great-Sporting-Divide.pdf">Archived</a> 12 December 2017 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> p.102</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/your-choice-of-footy-team-can-predict-where-youll-move/">Your choice of footy team can predict where you’ll move</a> Aidan Devine, The Telegraph 4 Jun 2018</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-afl-to-senate-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-afl-to-senate_29-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-afl-to-senate_29-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=4&ContentID=151020">"AFL tells Senate to mind their own business"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=AFL+tells+Senate+to+mind+their+own+business&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewest.com.au%2Fdefault.aspx%3FMenuID%3D4%26ContentID%3D151020&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://read-the-plaque.appspot.com/plaque/the-barassi-line">"The Barassi Line"</a>. <i>Read The Plaque</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 September</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Read+The+Plaque&rft.atitle=The+Barassi+Line&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fread-the-plaque.appspot.com%2Fplaque%2Fthe-barassi-line&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pressreader.com/australia/the-free-press-corowa/20141022/281496454542634">"Marking 'The Barassi Line'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. <i>The Free Press Corowa</i>. 22 October 2014. p. 3<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 September</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Free+Press+Corowa&rft.atitle=Marking+%27The+Barassi+Line%27&rft.pages=3&rft.date=2014-10-22&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pressreader.com%2Faustralia%2Fthe-free-press-corowa%2F20141022%2F281496454542634&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFTen" class="citation web cs1">Ten, Network. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://tensport.com.au/news/theroar/AFL-Why-AFL-expansion-really-is-worth-all-the-risks.htm">"TEN Sport"</a>. <i>TenPlay - TEN Sport</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=TenPlay+-+TEN+Sport&rft.atitle=TEN+Sport&rft.aulast=Ten&rft.aufirst=Network&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Ftensport.com.au%2Fnews%2Ftheroar%2FAFL-Why-AFL-expansion-really-is-worth-all-the-risks.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-theaustralian-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-theaustralian_33-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/opinion/patrick-smith/lessons-for-the-nrl-in-shaky-afl-expansion-strategy/news-story/cc9130280764e3bffa105775b196b285">"Subscribe to The Australian | Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps"</a>. <i>theaustralian.com.au</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 August</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=theaustralian.com.au&rft.atitle=Subscribe+to+The+Australian+%26%23124%3B+Newspaper+home+delivery%2C+website%2C+iPad%2C+iPhone+%26+Android+apps&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fsport%2Fopinion%2Fpatrick-smith%2Flessons-for-the-nrl-in-shaky-afl-expansion-strategy%2Fnews-story%2Fcc9130280764e3bffa105775b196b285&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120603114106/http://tensport.com.au/news/theroar/AFL-Why-AFL-expansion-really-is-worth-all-the-risks.htm">"Why AFL expansion really is worth all the risks - SPORTS OPINIONS - TEN SPORT"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://tensport.com.au/news/theroar/AFL-Why-AFL-expansion-really-is-worth-all-the-risks.htm">the original</a> on 3 June 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">30 July</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Why+AFL+expansion+really+is+worth+all+the+risks+-+SPORTS+OPINIONS+-+TEN+SPORT&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Ftensport.com.au%2Fnews%2Ftheroar%2FAFL-Why-AFL-expansion-really-is-worth-all-the-risks.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Pay2Play-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Pay2Play_35-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFHawthorne2017" class="citation news cs1">Hawthorne, Mark (25 March 2017). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/pay-to-play-how-sports-bodies-keeping-winning-the-tv-great-rights-battles-20170323-gv58z9.html">"Pay to play: how sports bodies keeping winning the TV great rights battles"</a>. <i>The Sydney Morning Herald</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Fox NRL. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20141002022231/http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/expanded-18team-competition-and-two-new-conferences-would-bring-back-tribalism-to-nrl/story-e6frf3ou-1226870163071?nk=2a73943d00782061639e8bcaf0b11407">Archived</a> from the original on 2 October 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">11 November</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Expanded+18-team+competition+and+two+new+conferences+would+bring+back+tribalism+to+NRL&rft.pub=Fox+NRL&rft.date=2014-04-01&rft.au=Phil+Rothfield&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxsports.com.au%2Fnrl%2Fexpanded-18team-competition-and-two-new-conferences-would-bring-back-tribalism-to-nrl%2Fstory-e6frf3ou-1226870163071%3Fnk%3D2a73943d00782061639e8bcaf0b11407&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-85"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-85">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFTodd_Balym2012" class="citation web cs1">Todd Balym (25 October 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-expansion-being-dropped-from-agenda-until-at-least-2015/news-story/341fd0f998ab99b1ed95a3e0b44c8d55">"NRL expansion being dropped from agenda until at least 2015"</a>. <i>Herald Sun</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">11 November</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Herald+Sun&rft.atitle=NRL+expansion+being+dropped+from+agenda+until+at+least+2015&rft.date=2012-10-25&rft.au=Todd+Balym&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldsun.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fnrl-expansion-being-dropped-from-agenda-until-at-least-2015%2Fnews-story%2F341fd0f998ab99b1ed95a3e0b44c8d55&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-86"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-86">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFKerr2016" class="citation news cs1">Kerr, Jack (2 March 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-02/kerr-the-football-expansion-wars/7213618">"The key battlefronts in the football expansion wars"</a>. <i>ABC News</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 November</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=ABC+News&rft.atitle=The+key+battlefronts+in+the+football+expansion+wars&rft.date=2016-03-02&rft.aulast=Kerr&rft.aufirst=Jack&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2016-03-02%2Fkerr-the-football-expansion-wars%2F7213618&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-87"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-87">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFWebster2020" class="citation web cs1">Webster, Andrew (13 February 2020). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/perth-nines-a-precursor-to-perth-team-no-chance-says-v-landys-20200213-p540c0.html">"Perth Nines a precursor to Perth team? No chance, says V'landys"</a>. <i>The Sydney Morning Herald</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Sydney+Morning+Herald&rft.atitle=Perth+Nines+a+precursor+to+Perth+team%3F+No+chance%2C+says+V%27landys&rft.date=2020-02-13&rft.aulast=Webster&rft.aufirst=Andrew&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smh.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fperth-nines-a-precursor-to-perth-team-no-chance-says-v-landys-20200213-p540c0.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-foxsports.com.au-88"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-foxsports.com.au_88-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-foxsports.com.au_88-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-nrl-licenses-for-18th-and-19th-team-png-north-sydney-bears-perth-bears-peter-vlandys-wayne-bennett-news-videos-expansion/news-story/093f6762a3f73b93e994f9b6d17ce2b9">‘That’s the ambition’: V’landys’ plan for 18th, 19th NRL franchises revealed amid Bears return</a> Fox League from Fox Sports 13 May 2024</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-89"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-89">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-15/flo-casts-doubt-on-perth-nrl-bid/3832910">"Flo casts doubt on Perth NRL bid"</a>. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 February 2012.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Flo+casts+doubt+on+Perth+NRL+bid&rft.date=2012-02-15&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2012-02-15%2Fflo-casts-doubt-on-perth-nrl-bid%2F3832910&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-90"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-90">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/perth-nrl-bid-open-to-bears-jets-liaison-but-would-rather-go-alone-20240512-p5jcwy.html">Perth NRL bid open to Bears, Jets liaison but would rather go alone</a> By Joel Gould 12 May 2024</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-91"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-91">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/des-houghton-state-of-origin-is-dying-and-i-think-i-know-why/news-story/d160f6226d2b7c064cdbb4e204bf1f39">State of Origin is dying and I think I know why</a> by Des Houghton for the Courier Mail 25 May 2023</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-92"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-92">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/23/state-of-rugby-in-australia-success-wallabies-super-rugby-2024">‘It’ll take a miracle’: decades of decline leave Australian rugby at dire crossroads</a> by Angus Fontaine for The Guardian 23 February 2024</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Business_News-93"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Business_News_93-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Business_News_93-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Rugby-the-glue-for-Force-s-O-Connor">by Justin Gris for Business News 1 March 2024</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-94"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-94">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-unlikely-melbourne-suburbs-pumping-out-professional-rugby-players-20220317-p5a5p2.html">The unlikely Melbourne suburbs pumping out professional rugby players</a> by Nicole Precel for The Age 28 March 2022</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-95"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-95">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/rugby/185647/Axed-championship-splits-Aussie-game">Axed championship splits Aussie game</a> from Stuff.co.nz 18 February 2009</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-96"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-96">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby/teams-super-rugby/rebels-2011/">Rebels 2011</a> from Rugby 365 7 February 2011</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Western_Force_culled_from_Super_Rugby_competition-97"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Western_Force_culled_from_Super_Rugby_competition_97-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/western-force-culled-from-super-rugby-competition/news-story/5b379907a78f05c2fc1b554862cd9ffc">"Western Force culled from Super Rugby competition"</a>. <i>The Daily Telegraph</i>. 11 August 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">11 August</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Daily+Telegraph&rft.atitle=Western+Force+culled+from+Super+Rugby+competition&rft.date=2017-08-11&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Frugby%2Fwestern-force-culled-from-super-rugby-competition%2Fnews-story%2F5b379907a78f05c2fc1b554862cd9ffc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-98"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-98">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFFujak2012" class="citation thesis cs1">Fujak, Hunter (November 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131224112408/http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/research/bitstream/handle/10453/23386/02whole.pdf"><i>An Analysis of Broadcasting and Attendance in the Australian Football Industry</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> (Master of Arts (Sport Studies)). <a href="/wiki/University_of_Technology,_Sydney" class="mw-redirect" title="University of Technology, Sydney">University of Technology, Sydney</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/research/bitstream/handle/10453/23386/02whole.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 24 December 2013.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adissertation&rft.title=An+Analysis+of+Broadcasting+and+Attendance+in+the+Australian+Football+Industry&rft.inst=University+of+Technology%2C+Sydney&rft.date=2012-11&rft.aulast=Fujak&rft.aufirst=Hunter&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fepress.lib.uts.edu.au%2Fresearch%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10453%2F23386%2F02whole.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-99"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-99">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/matches/venues/manuka-oval">"Manuka Oval"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Manuka+Oval&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gwsgiants.com.au%2Fmatches%2Fvenues%2Fmanuka-oval&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-100"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-100">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.womens.afl/news/64390/womens.afl/news/64390/why-playing-in-canberra-is-so-special-for-gun-giant">"Why playing in Canberra is so special for gun Giant"</a>. <i>AFLW</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=AFLW&rft.atitle=Why+playing+in+Canberra+is+so+special+for+gun+Giant&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.womens.afl%2Fnews%2F64390%2Fwomens.afl%2Fnews%2F64390%2Fwhy-playing-in-canberra-is-so-special-for-gun-giant&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABarassi+Line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Barassi_Line&action=edit&section=36" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://colinross.co/2016/05/05/the-barassi-line/">The Barassi Line</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171111095356/https://colinross.co/2016/05/05/the-barassi-line/">Archived</a> 11 November 2017 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> Investigation by Colin Ross</li></ul>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; 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