The decision-making criteria employed in the tournament allocation procedure by the ACF is unlikely to be "the natural order" of things, as I believe you are suggesting..

It is more instructive to look deeper through to the bid process to find the rationale for decisions.

Bid #1 was successful and was not in the Melbourne Metro (in fact it was at Churchill) which gave ample room for 'outside of venue' opportunities.

Bid #2 was unsuccessful by the GURU at Mt Buller. Essentially the same bid was then cloned by another privateer, this privateer with closer connections to the ACF Executive. The cloned bid was given the tick of approval.

Bid #3 was unsuccessful; by a Melbourne Junior Club (see bid #1) based on the Box Hill Town Hall venue.

The following year the GURU tried to bridge the connection to the ACF but failed to gain an office-bearer position. Therefore there was no bid from him in that year.

Bid #4 was unsuccessful. It had a Melbourne Metro venue.

Bid #5 by the Guru recently (Jan. 2010) was unsuccessful.

On the basis of this 'analysis', I believe your 'real issue', ...an Aus. Juniors in Metro Melbourne, has not happened as yet