Sheedy California dreamin'

So what do you think the future holds for the AFL?

The Australian Government and AFL should invest in a Californian ground. You've got about 40 million people and it will probably take 10 hours to fly there one day. It's nothing. The next Australian type person lives in Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles. And that's where I see gold. 2025 . . we've got to be planning for it now and eventually have a team over there. Why not move the game off-shore? I think they will within five years.

If we can get an icon game like Anzac Day and the Dreamtime game and get $500,000, what's wrong with going overseas and getting a $1 million if it was available. You're only taking two hours off the fans in Australia for one match that might keep the club financially alive.

Already you've got a ground built in Fort Lauderdale. We can really build local footy with 40 teams already in America. Maybe when the AFL gets to 18 teams it might have two conferences.

That's where it'll be heading, very similar to the American system.

In terms of rules, I think kicking backwards except in the front half of the ground will be play on. And you'll have more than four on the bench in finals. It's a new series and you need more.

What about a night Grand Final?

My suggestion is try one and give everybody a couple of years notice. If someone had said Twenty20 cricket five years ago they would have said what is it. That's the AFL's opportunity in America. The Americans would find a Test match too long for no result, one day is exciting and Twenty20 is just a "wham bam, thank you, ma'am" and we're out of here. That goes for about as long as an AFL game. I reckon AFL could really get into the market and then head to Europe.

What's your involvement in the 150-year celebrations of football?

The future's going to start in August next year when 18 countries are coming here, 1000 players are going to be in Melbourne and Warrnambool. We must send them home absolutely inspired by this game. We're working on that already to make it the most exciting International Cup ever. I also believe in icon games. Icon games are between two clubs who have a synergy and that's what the Eureka game will be between North Melbourne and Richmond.

Source: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22963879%255E19768,00.html