Gold Coast has long been a dead mans patch for (allegedly) professional sporting clubs. The AFEL bucked the trend and went into the Gold Coast.

The McKenna years were worse than expected.
Their recruiting hasn't been sharp.
The drug culture and QLD Crime Commission investigations are a stain on the game and their club.
Many of their best players have requested out, and walked out.
They've not made finals yet, and don't look nearly like it anytime soon.
Membership numbers are still poor.
Attendances are not brilliant, non unexpectedly.
Rumours of rifts between players and coaches still hang about.
This year they pitched money & opportunity to dozens of good players, all but one knocked them back.
Captain, Qld AFEL Ambasador and on a huge salary Gary Ablett requested a trade out of there last month, for much less money.
Malcheski has retired all of a sudden with a 2017 contract (yes he's had injuries, and cites them as the reason).

We know the AFEL need an 18th licence for the TV rights deal. So we know 18 teams are here, I'm not suggesting dropping the numbers. But how many years does this need to continue before another club is looked at for the 18th licence? Such as North QLD or Northern Australia (inc. Darwin to FNQ) or Tasmania etc.

Can this be drawn out much passed 3-5 years before change? Maybe even a merge with Brisbane to concoct another 3 peat for bandwagoners.