Matey, if the clubs in their own countries dont appeal to them they will NEVER be encouraged to "follow their own league".. Its what Ive been trying to get across to you for years now. It ALL starts at the club.
Someone like Melbourne City (if they really wanted too) needs to figure out what it is that makes people in their own immediate area give their loyalty to some club in England rather than their own neighbourhood club AND THEN do something about it. It has to be a club by club endeavour. What works for Melbourne City may not work for Central Coast for example... or for Western United...
What is it? The community feel? The intrenet engagement? The star power? The history? Or is it just because thats what everyone else is watching? Clubs in Australia, to my mind, just present themselves as a sharp corporate logo and tell their fans "this is who we are like it or lump it you wont get any other club in your geographic area" Is that enough?
If m not mistaken you recently visited England and went to a lower tier match? Thats a great example, why are those fans so loyal to their club? - (not the league mind you, I bet they couldn't give a toss what league their beloved club is currently in as that changes every year or so).