The AFL has only been around since 1990.
The AFL as it is, was a simple name change of an existing competition that has been run since 1897. Make no mistake, its in the leagues official history. There is no difference between the competitions other than the number and location of teams.
The VFL was the centre of the universe for the game for many years. The code decided to go national during the eighties, which was a radical and far-sighted move at the time.
The code did no such thing. it was already national by the time the Australasian football council was formed in 1908 - and included New Zealand. It was the VFL - a league within the code - that voted in 1985 to pursue a policy of expansion.
Australian Rules football can only be played on large ovals.
Full size yes, there are versions of the game being played all over the world on whatever fields they can get, including playing across two rugby or soccer fields, or just mapping out a ground on a park.
That limits the potential for international growth. Another factor is the chicken and egg dilemma. How would you get kids in another country to start playing a new code that does not exist? If kids don't play, how can there be a professional competition?
The AFL does not want professional competition outside Australia. Not now and not ever. It very deliberatley limits its very limited funding to development and carnival co-ordination, with combines and such to bring the talent to Australia.
The Israel Folau fiasco shows how hard it can be for even a gifted athlete to pick up the skills. Not to say that it cannot be done, Jim Stynes came from Ireland, Mike Pyke from Canadian Rugby. But they were highly motivated and prepared to make big sacrifices.
Absolutely.
The reason that they are not interested is because they are sensible enough to understand their strengths and weaknesses as a code. Domestically they are strong and resilient. Internationally they are a curiosity.
Internationally they've never even tried, and yet there are thousands of players out there, and 18 countries turned up to the international cup last year. I think they are ok.