Melbourne and Hawthorn are examples of why it can very rarely happen anymore under current clubs ownership structures. That didn't even get passed the first hurdle.
All of the Melbourne clubs are owned by the members.
They would have to vote in favor of it under their clubs constitution (Not happening)
The AFL commission can't ship a club off (As North showed), they don't own the game.
The clubs own the league essentially and has final say on it's ultimate structure.
I believe it's a 70% majority required.
Once Tassie comes in, that would mean 14 clubs need to vote for that club to be relocated, so you would need 5 Victorian clubs in additional to every other Non-Victorian club to vote to relocate one of the others.
Good luck.
I understand that the members would need to vote to support a merger or relocation, but playing devils advocate, is there anything stopping the AFL from railroading this by just not allowing the club to play in the AFL competition unless they agree to a merger or relocation.
ie, you keep your club, you just have no comp to play in.
Not suggesting it would ever happen, but I am not sure the argument of "members would never vote for it" would always hold up.