With the NFL preparing to play its first regular-season match in Australia, the AFL has a chance to return the favour and take Australian football back to the United States.
The AFL's relationship with the US is not a new one.
In fact, the VFL/AFL first made its way to American soil more than 60 years ago.
In 1963, Geelong played Melbourne in front of 3500 spectators in San Francisco, marking the beginning of exhibition matches in the United States. Four more exhibition matches followed, with games played in Miami, Portland and Los Angeles.
The biggest crowd came in 1990, when more than 14,000 spectators attended an exhibition match between Melbourne and West Coast.
Despite those early attempts, Australian football has not been back in America since 2006, exactly 20 years ago. The NFL is clearly focused on expanding its international audience, so why shouldn't the AFL return the favour? Americans are growing their interest in AFL; now is the time to bring the game back to the USA.
There is also a growing connection between the two sports through players themselves.
Mason Cox has helped provide American audiences with a familiar connection to Australian football, showing that an American can not only understand the game but also play at the highest level.
Imagine an AFL round being played at iconic American stadiums, with Australian stars introduced to a new audience of sports fans, allowing them to experience the game live.
It wouldn't have to begin with a competitive match. The AFL could start with an exhibition match, just as it has done in the past. The GWS Giants have previously pushed for a game in America, as well as the Bombers.
The AFL's challenge would be making sure it isn't simply sending two teams overseas and hoping people turn up.
A successful American game would need serious investment in grassroots football, local promotion, and partnerships with American sporting organisations.
Send AFL players to American schools and universities. Run clinics. Promote the sport through social media. Give American fans access to meet players. Build relationships with local leagues.
Then announce an exhibition game.
The NRL successfully took their game to the USA, playing their season opener in Las Vegas. The NRL is now committed to playing in the US until at least 2028.
Andrew Dillon commented on the possibility of the AFL going to America on Nine's Today in 2025.
"Look, it seems like it's worked really well for the NRL," he said.
"It is operationally really complex, what they are doing, and they've done a great job there.
"But we're really focused on our market in Australia," he said.
That is fair, but the NFL coming to Australia provides an opportunity the AFL should be looking at. It doesn't have to be an immediate decision, but it is something that should be done in the next 5-10 years, and many footy fans agree.
