Port Adelaide's China project has moved beyond fad to a foothold, with the AFL bullish about the long-term prospects.
Four years after St Kilda's New Zealand experiment fizzled out, the Saints now have a three-year deal to play the Power for premiership points in Shanghai.
Gold Coast played Port in Shanghai for the first two years of the project.
Speaking at Friday's launch in Melbourne of the June 2 clash, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan and Port chairman David Koch talked up the long-term future of the China games.
"When you do something as ambitious as this - and I want to praise David Koch for his energy and, (as well as) Port Adelaide - you're looking all the time at the challenges as well as the opportunities," McLachlan said.
"Now having executed twice, seeing the commercial opportunities, the trade opportunities, the endorsement of the ground, having partnerships with government up there, the opportunities feel stronger than the risks."
Koch chuckled when told about McLachlan's public optimism.
"There is a nice feeling - it's something we've been encouraging and helping (to) ease the AFL's fears," he said.
"I think it was treated as maybe a bit of a fad when we first announced it - we've shown we're committed, people understand the long-term strategy."
Having an established Victorian club as Port's opponent is also significant.
"It's no secret that we've always preferred a traditional Victorian team to play with us in Shanghai," Koch said.
"It was great having Gold Coast along, but I think it really refreshes the game and gives it a sharper focus."
The AFL and Port are spruiking the Shanghai game for its commercial, trade and cultural opportunities.
Koch said given the international rumblings between China and the West, the AFL can play its part in calming relations.
"Football can make a major statement and a major contribution to smoothing those things over," he said.
