The Auspoll survey found that 6 per cent of people in NSW would make western Sydney their team, and 5 per cent would become members. Three per cent would switch clubs to follow the new club, perhaps indicating the Swans might lose some of their support. While the survey, which was not commissioned by the AFL, found an overwhelming 67 per cent had no interest in the AFL, this was not surprising in a rugby union- and rugby league-dominated state.

Importantly for the sake of the AFL's next broadcast rights agreement, 18 per cent of respondents said they would watch AFL games on television.

People in higher income brackets were more likely to be interested in the AFL.

The survey, of more than 500 people, was deemed an indicative sample in line with the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Auspoll chairman Adam Kilgour said the research showed there was a good level of interest in Sydney for a second AFL team.

"The encouraging thing for the AFL is the main interest is from the high-spending 25- to 34-year-old age group, and higher income earners. This would be music to potential sponsor's ears and good news for the AFL's media-rights partners," he said.