For the record, the Suns have just five Queenslanders on their list and the Lions 13. The Giants have nine New South Wales players and the Swans 14.
There is some incredible short-sighted parochialism at work in the AFL.
When Brisbane won three premierships in the early part of this century, McGuire led the charge to cut back some salary cap concessions for the Lions.
When Sydney grabbed Lance Franklin in a clever piece of free trading, the howls resulted in the cost of living allowance being stripped back for the Swans.
On the other hand, the Hawks have won the past three premierships. They too have used the draft rules to great effect with Brian Lake, James Frawley and Ben McEvoy among those taken from other clubs to ensure their dynasty continued through four grand final appearances.
And yet there is no derision directed at the Hawks.
It is the AFL, not the VFL.
The clubs from outside Victoria are not just there to make up the numbers � good enough to be in the competition but not allowed to actually win it.
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