Power and Passion, but also a state of acrimony

[am Bays]

Not that I always agree with Porter after his hatchet job on Scooter after 1990 Foundation Cup final, but he makes some interesting points particularly about who owns the tradition......cue PAProud

Power and passion, but also a state of acrimony
August 29, 2006

Port Adelaide may have won an AFL flag, but it also has burnt many in South Australian football, Ashley Porter reports.

PORT Adelaide's 1990 dream was to go on a crusade into the AFL with its proud SANFL history engraved on its armour, and bring back the riches for all South Australian league clubs to enjoy.

It was to be the local competition's saviour, and despite failing at its first attempt to enter, the passion and promises of great things were not diminished when the Power evolved.

Now, 10 years into the journey, the reality is that Port has failed to deliver on many of its promises or expectations. It has not reached an average 35,000 or more fans at its games, as strongly forecast in its submission to the SANFL to win the AFL licence, and poor financial returns have stopped it from delivering to the SANFL the once-touted millions from a set 80 per cent of its profits.

Excluding the home-town contests, and the countless free tickets to its matches, this season, Port probably has recorded its lowest home attendances since entering the competition, breaking the 30,000 barrier only once — 30,281 versus Collingwood in round 20.

It cannot be said that Port has not worked incredibly hard with limited resources within boundaries, and its shortfalls relating to off-field expectations over the past decade have not been without frustration. Most SANFL clubs have acknowledged the extenuating circumstances linked with the disappointing figures, and have moved on from the hatred they felt towards Port Adelaide 16 years ago when it betrayed the league.

However, there is one thing that still eats at them — the Power taking the Port SANFL tradition with it.

Legally, the Port Adelaide Football Club went into the AFL. The new club formed was the Port Adelaide Magpies, which competes in the SANFL. The Magpies have the original name, the same old black and white gate guernsey, and the club song — the tune to the Notre Dame Victory March. But both lay a claim to the tradition.

Since the AFL introduced its brilliant concept of a heritage round, the Power has not missed an opportunity to moan about not being able to include in its commemorative guernsey the traditional black and white colours it wore through a century of South Australian league football. On other occasions, it has talked proudly about its record SANFL premierships, Australian championships and its incredible gallery of champions.

Yet, everything was achieved as the "Magpies", the name of the new club. It has left many confused, perhaps angry, because common sense would have suggested that the Power was the new club and it should create its own history as an AFL identity. It virtually picked the flesh off the bones of the Magpies, and discarded this "new" club to fend for itself.

The legal changeover deal involved the Power giving the Magpies about $900,000, from which they had to spend $600,000 on a new training facility, offices and other outgoings. The Magpies were left with only a 15 per cent share in their licensed premises, and could not train at Alberton Oval for three years. The Power even took their telephone number — 8447 4044.

While the Magpies publicly and bravely express harmony with the Power, deep down there is immense resentment among some who are close to the local club. It is not the happy relationship that many may want to believe, and the early fear that the Magpies would have a huge advantage over their SANFL rivals with vast resources and facilities because of its supposedly close link with the Power could not be further from the truth.

Those within in the Magpies ranks are said to feel isolated from the Power, perhaps more than some other SANFL clubs. The Magpies are treated as a fierce, sometimes bitter rival in the chase for traditional supporters.

There are SANFL club officials who resent the Power because they feel belittled. They note arrogance, but then they may be just sensitive. In contrast, they say they generally have a far better relationship with the Crows … they feel they can communicate on equal terms.

Yet, for all of its misgivings or disappointments, there is absolutely no doubt the city of Adelaide is better off with the Power in the AFL. It has delivered healthy, although extreme, local rivalry, and a new football culture. Significantly, since 1997, and aligned with huge support for the Crows, an average 20,000 more fans have attended football here each weekend during the season, including SANFL games.

Some SANFL clubs are struggling to survive, but overall South Australian football is in a far healthier state because of having two clubs in the AFL.

At first, the Crows felt an adverse impact upon Port's arrival, with some sponsorships split among the two clubs, but in time new ones emerged and both clubs have since dipped into deeper riches than if there were only one AFL club. The exposure has become more far-reaching and corporate giants and businesses have witnessed the benefits of being part of the action.

Port certainly has done its fans proud in its first 10 years — a premiership among an impressive six finals campaigns, plus two night premierships. Indeed an admirable first decade, and there is every reason to believe it has been overwhelmingly more successful than Fitzroy ever may have imagined during this period.

However, one would have liked the Power to have left South Australian Magpie heritage in this state. Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has every right to vehemently argue that there can be only one black and white tradition in the AFL.

Ashley Porter is The Age's Adelaide football correspondent. He has covered the game in South Australia for more than 20 years.

http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/news ... 75518.html

[MW]

great article, sums it all up perfectly

[Booney]

In the main,well said/put,however,the facts I would like to be discussed relating to the relationship the Power and Magpies share has alot to do with the restraints put on the clubs by the SANFL and the 8 other league clubs at the time of Port Adelaides entry into the AFL.For instance,the Port Adelaide football club (Power) can at any stage hold a joint fundraising exercise,lets say a family day,with Glenelg,North any SANFL club,bar the Magpies.Seems a little odd as this, most would think would never take place,and I fully understand the reasoning behind this,the SANFL and the other 8 clubs felt it would be of a huge benefit and financial boom for the Magpies to have such a close relationship with the Power.Now this of course,is true,the Magpies would have had a "natural" feed of AFL discards looking for entry back into the system,and would have gained massive financial bonuses from such a relationship,now,as an avid supporter/member of both clubs,I for one feel these had an immediate impact on the relationship the clubs had/have.

On the "tradition" aspect of the article,as tradition is not a tangible object or commodity it can not be "taken" or for that matter given to any one/club or organisation.It is earnt.Time,success,belief and more time is what develops tradition,and as the Power move forward our/their own tradition will develop.I think too many people confuse this argument the whole tradition and heritage thing.There is no doubt about the Power's heritage,the tradition is and always will be with the Port Adelaide football club,now,where that club lies is up to you to decide.

The gospel according to Boon.

[Footy Chick]

I've aired my greivances....nuff said

Regards,

One confused little magpie

[mighty_tiger_79]

great article but the great debate will still go on between the canaries and the wharfies and as an outsider looking in its quite funny