The recent form of the Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants has shown us the ugly side of the AFL’s northern expansion. The hidings both clubs have copped have not been a good look for the code. Some have even gone as far as suggesting that the poor performance of the Suns proves that Andrew Demetriou has had it wrong all along.

But let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

The on-field performance of the expansion clubs this early in their existence won’t be critical to their survival. It’s safe to say the AFL have the money to keep them running until the wins start to come.

Which, given the concessions that have been given, is bound to happen.

The more appropriate question at this time, however, is whether AFL expansion is actually something that’s worth all the trouble and dollars and ugly moments we’ve seen so far.

Is it worth all the thrashings? The 93-point quarter time deficits? The 89-point losses to VFL teams?

Is it worth all the money? The huge investment required to get these clubs running? The investment that will be required to keep them running?

Is it worth all the disruptions? The byes and extra rounds? The compromising of the draft?

Is it worth all the negative press? Or the anger among existing fans? Or the sheer risk of expanding aggressively into another code’s heartland?

To some, the answer to these questions would be an instant yes. To others, an instant no. The truth, as always, is probably somewhere in between, however the negative aspects of expanding need to be balanced against the negative aspects of not expanding.

There’s no doubting that Australian Rules is the top code in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. The two states it does not hold a dominant position in, however, are New South Wales and Queensland – states which make up over 50 per cent of the Australian population.

The AFL having only two teams in these states severely limited the league in a number of ways. It limited growth. It limited the reach that can be pitched to potential sponsors. It limited the game’s national footprint. It limited the overall audience of the game.

Aside from limiting, having only two teams also posed a threat. With the number of professional football teams in these two states increasing in recent times thanks to the NRL’s Gold Coast Titans and the A-League, as well as the potential for further expansion in coming years, the AFL’s market share in both states was in genuine risk of decreasing.

Both these concerns are being addressed by having two new clubs, one on the Gold Coast, the other in Western Sydney. There is now plenty of room for growth and an extra layer of insurance has been added to the game’s market share.

For those who doubt the significance of such things, just remember last week the concept of expansion got the ultimate vote of confidence when the league announced a $1.253 billion broadcast deal – $253 million more than the league’s target.

The alternative was to sit idle and not make the decision to introduce the Suns and Giants. But that would have meant less opportunity for the game to grow, the game’s present standing in two incredibly crucial states would be put at risk and also, quite possibly, a much smaller pay day last week.

So are the thrashings, the money, the disruptions, the negative press, the anger and the risk all worth it?

Well, they sure beat the alternative.