A few Collingwood supporters just point out how moronic it is to try and just lump groups into Vic v non-vic, as they aint the same.I find it ironic that in a thread asking for a genuine discussion about the issue it is being dominated by Collingwood fans saying "na ah, you are wrong, you are not disadvantaged, we are disadvantaged"
With respect to travel, it is WA vs the rest.
With respect to winning games, it is clear that retaining a home ground advantage is a huge advantage.
Of your selected era.
Melbourne based Docklands teams - StK, NM and WB - have won just 1 flag. And to win it the Dogs came from 7th and had to win 4 away finals. No bias here.
Melbourne based "Co-tenants" - Essendon and Carlton - have barely won a final let alone a GF. The two clubs have been shite for 20 years, not having a home ground a big part of that. No bias here.
Melbourne based MCG teams - Coll, Melb, Rich - the supposed advantaged teams who have won 6 flags (but 33% of them were won away from the G). Slightly higher than expected, but the result of Richmond finally coming good after being shit for 30 years.
Then you have the teams who win.
4 flags have been won by the Tassie Hawks, they face a similar travel impost to that of Sydney or the SA teams. They only play 8 or 9 games at their home ground each year, and then are away for the other 13. Hawks have used the fact that you can get an advantage if travelling to a ground that you have a familiarity advantage over your opponent.
4 flags have been won by Geelong, a non Melbourne team who retains a home advantage. Like Tassie, they play 8 or 9 games at their actual home ground, but then play away heaps. But they play "away" at the same ground heaps, so develop strong familiarity with these grounds, so again no real disadvantage. Geelong never get home finals, instead copping the familiar away ground aka a neutral game.
The bias is clear, you dont want to be a team that plays 15 or 16 games in Melbourne with no home ground advantage.
The ideal scenario is to have a unique home ground outside of Melbourne to get a home ground advantage during H&A season, and then get your 5+ games at the G during the so you are familiar with thr G come finals time.