Complex sentence: Adams is probably less associated with the formation of the AFL in the mind of the general public than Hunt, but was probably almost as crucial to the league's success, as he and Hunt were more financially stable than some of the other early owners.
Split into simpler sentences: Adams is probably less associated with the formation of the AFL in the mind of the general public than Hunt. However, he was probably almost as crucial to the league's success, as he and Hunt were more financially stable than some of the other early owners.