I did my own research and low and behold, of all the sporting codes in Leichhardt LGA, ONLY Rugby League puts forward the case that the Australian Football/AFL (despite being established in Balmain in 1903... well before Rugby League) has no right to be in the Leichhardt LGA and should look elsewhere. They don't however object to sharing grounds with soccer, rugby union, cricket or even baseball but AFL. FFS, how paranoid are these people (check their response to the Council's recommendations out in Table 2 in the link below).
Again take note of why Leichhardt Council are recommending AFL and Rugby League share Birchgrove Oval as a comprimise for all sporting codes. Seems reasonable enough to me.
LEICHHARDT MUNICIPAL COUNCIL REPORT and RECOMMENDATIONS
http://www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/Igniti ... 12-ord.pdf
AFL - the need to establish an AFL facility within the LGA (currently none)
As a sporting activity AFL has had a presence in the Leichhardt area since 1903. The Balmain Australian Football Club was one of the founding member clubs of the Sydney Football League which was established in 1903.
The present day Balmain Dockers has a player base of 270 local players. The club has no training or competition venues within the Leichhardt LGA with the majority of its training and competition format taking place in the Canada Bay LGA. Through the support of Sydney AFL the club has identified a need to develop junior AFL participation at the local level and currently runs a successful after school programme (Auskick) at Orange Grove Public School. They have also held two gala days at Birchgrove Oval which included a number of local school students. As part of the expressions of interest process AFL has sought access to Glover Street sporting ground for junior AFL. Strategically, Council officers would advocate that in the longer term, AFL needs a larger sporting ground than can be provided at the Glover Street site and one which can also cater for both junior and senior AFL competition games.
While a junior AFL ground is possible at the Glover Street sporting ground it could not coexist with baseball as the sporting ground is not large enough to cater for both sports. An additional problem would also exist whereby the baseball mound would encroach on to the playing area. This is currently a problem which exists with rugby league/union and baseball at Blackmore Park requiring the costly removal of the baseball mound at the end of each sporting season.
Having strategically reviewed current recreational provision the most suitable ground for AFL in the Leichhardt LGA is at Birchgrove Oval. Birchgrove Oval is large enough and the correct shape (oval rather than square) to cater for junior games as well as provide access to a full sized AFL ground. Historically AFL has strong links to Birchgrove Oval having been played at the park from 1903 through to 1926. It is therefore recommended therefore that Balmain and District Soccer are relocated from Brichgrove Park to the Glover Street playing fields to allow for the development of an AFL training and competition format at Birchgrove Park.
, no just another fib by the AFL that is so graciously supported by the one and only Beaussie. Gone quite again on your thread beaussie, and you stated fact 
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