Port Adelaide 2019

[Booney]

Shorten's Labor party has pledged $5m to the PAFC's Aboriginal Centre of Excellence if they are elected at the next Federal election.

[Lightning McQueen]

Called - "Perfect Pear"

People drop their info into the database, they get matched up by "experts" and then meet up for the first time on the ground before a game, they watch the game together and then they go back at 3/4 time and ask them if they'd go out again.

Weird, but hey, it's 2019.

A bit like the 80's show "Pearfect Match"?

[Brodlach]

Shorten's Labor party has pledged $5m to the PAFC's Aboriginal Centre of Excellence if they are elected at the next Federal election.

You mean when. Port she be getting the plans rea

[Brodlach]

Called - "Perfect Pear"

People drop their info into the database, they get matched up by "experts" and then meet up for the first time on the ground before a game, they watch the game together and then they go back at 3/4 time and ask them if they'd go out again.

Weird, but hey, it's 2019.

A bit like the 80's show "Pearfect Match"?

So there looking for brothers and sisters?

[woodublieve12]

Called - "Perfect Pear"

People drop their info into the database, they get matched up by "experts" and then meet up for the first time on the ground before a game, they watch the game together and then they go back at 3/4 time and ask them if they'd go out again.

Weird, but hey, it's 2019.

that's actually pretty cool.... Bit left field but some fun to be had

[Lightning McQueen]

A bit like the 80's show "Pearfect Match"?

So there looking for brothers and sisters?

They're*

[amber_fluid]

Called - "Perfect Pear"

People drop their info into the database, they get matched up by "experts" and then meet up for the first time on the ground before a game, they watch the game together and then they go back at 3/4 time and ask them if they'd go out again.

Weird, but hey, it's 2019.

A bit like the 80's show "Pearfect Match"?

So there looking for brothers and sisters?

Or just brothers or just sisters.
Don’t exclude the gay when talking about incest, they will feel left out.

[stan]

Called - "Perfect Pear"

People drop their info into the database, they get matched up by "experts" and then meet up for the first time on the ground before a game, they watch the game together and then they go back at 3/4 time and ask them if they'd go out again.

Weird, but hey, it's 2019.

A bit like the 80's show "Pearfect Match"?

So there looking for brothers and sisters?

Or just brothers or just sisters.
Don’t exclude the gay when talking about incest, they will feel left out.

That's right there mate. Be inclusive please.

[Booney]

Port Adelaide expects to make its first profit — as much as $500,000 — from its annual Shanghai game that takes up Victorian opponent St Kilda for its third instalment on June 2.

But Power president David Koch says the more critical figure to note from the AFL club’s “China Strategy” is the $6 million it is contributing to Port Adelaide’s revenue streams.

This accounts for 10 per cent of the club’s total revenue — seven years after the Port Adelaide Football Club almost lost its AFL licence for having an unsustainable business model.

“We’ve made it to base camp (as a sustainable football club) with three years of hard work (in China),” Koch told The Advertiser at the launch of the Shanghai game at Government House in Melbourne.

“We’ve built revenue streams (in China) that are not dependant on on-field performances. We’ve given the club a sustainable business model. And we have done it in a way that can set up the club for a generation.”


The cynicism attached with Port Adelaide taking Australian football to China was smashed away by AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan saying: “The opportunities in China are now greater than the risk.”

Koch on Friday did admit he has had to convince not only the AFL but also some in his board room at Alberton of the pay-off to come from China where the Power has played Gold Coast in the past two years — and done no better than break even on the costs of putting on an AFL premiership match in Shanghai.

“I’ve had to comfort people at Port Adelaide — not just the AFL — on the risk associated with going to China,” Koch said.

“The game is expensive, very expensive. And we know Australian football will not become a major sport in China. We’re not stupid, we understand that.

“But this is an enormous opportunity for our club — and the benefits go well beyond the money made on game day. The commercial partners we are finding away from the Shanghai match will do more than make our club sustainable.

“We don’t just want to work to 95 per cent of the salary cap or 80 per cent of the soft cap on football spending. We want to raise money to invest more and more in our football program.”

Port Adelaide has a three-year agreement with St Kilda that is significantly backed by the Victorian state government on the China game at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai.

Koch this time has not entered a guernsey brawl with his St Kilda counterparts, as he did with Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane who kept the Suns in their home jumper of red and yellow that matches the Chinese national flag.

But — as The Advertiser pointed out in October — there is still the question as to what will Port Adelaide wear in Shanghai considering its preferred black jumper does not contrast with St Kilda’s home red-white-and-black guernsey.

The Saints, as the team that has sold a home game to be in China, will stay in its home jumper. The Power cannot sell any of its home matches from Adelaide Oval by government legislation.

“Watch this space,” Koch told The Advertiser.

[Brodlach]

Agree Koch ‘watch this space’.

[stan]

Agree Koch ‘watch this space’.

Must be the prequel to lost in space.

[Rik E Boy]

The AFL keep sending Port to China but the bastards keep coming back.

regards,

REB

[carey]

How fitting

[Booney]

#Buttermeup

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-20 ... RLsDVwr2Q8

You couldn’t wipe the smile off Zak Butters’ face.

The 18-year-old had just kicked two goals and become the talk of the football world with a tantalising cameo performance as Port Adelaide upset Melbourne at the MCG.

Fresh out of a team meeting, the teenager was buzzing — hair wet from a combination of sweat and Gatorade — and still somewhat in disbelief at how his day had played out.

“It’s an unreal feeling — childhood dream come true today,” Butters told foxfooty.com.au.

“Come down to Melbourne and backs against the wall to get a win — no better feeling in the world.”

Butters’ first touch in AFL football wasn’t so memorable.

The youngster took possession in defence, and kicked it straight down the throat of Melbourne forward Alex Neal-Bullen.

Fortunately for Butters, the Demon missed his shot on goal — while the Power teenager bounced back to have a genuine impact on the narrative of the game.

“It’s not the perfect start but just got back to basics and went back to what I’ve been working on all pre-season,” Butters said.

“Just tried to build confidence from there.”

From that shaky starting point, the teenager hardly missed a beat.

Butters had 13 disposals and three tackles to go with two majors on debut — with his first goal in AFL football handing the Power the lead for the first time that day.

“Twenty blokes around you just hugging you — just raw emotion — it’s just unbelievable,” Butters said.

Butters was one of four debutants plying their trade against the Demons.

Xavier Duursma, Willem Drew and Connor Rozee all kicked their careers off in style, with the fresh-faced foursome giving the Power a renewed spark and energy.

“I think it’s an exciting time,” Butters said.

“There’s a lot of young guys playing their first game which brings a lot of energy to the team and we’re just all really grateful to have been given the opportunity by Port Adelaide.”

And while the Power was coming off a sluggish end to 2018, you wouldn’t know it in the second half against the Demons, with Ken Hinkley’s side delivering a tenacious, exciting and ruthless showing.

Indeed, Hinkley described the victory as the best he’d been involved with as a coach.

Butters credited the performance to the strong bonds formed in the team over the off-season.

“Pre-season we all put our heads down and worked really hard and as a group we worked on connection and to really get to know each other as players and people off the field, and that social side,” Butters said.

“I think that showed on the field today.”

The Western Jets product, who was drafted at Pick 12 in last year’s AFL Draft, is light in frame but hard at the footy — and clever with ball in hand.

Butters’ draft year stats — he had one of the highest impacts per disposal of any TAC Cup midfielder and was also just one of two midfielders to rate elite for both score involvements and intercept possessions — forecast his future as a player who doesn’t need a heap of the footy to make his presence felt in a game.

Indeed, Power star Robbie Gray — who played his 200th game on Saturday — saw Butters’ draft tapes and was adamant he was the type of player needed to bring the spark back to Alberton.

It’s no surprise then, that Gray and former club captain Travis Boak are among those who’ve encouraged Butters to play his natural game on the big stage.

“Robbie Gray, Boaky, all them guys have played 200-plus games, just said ‘do what you’ve been doing to get you to this point and we back you in, so just play with confidence’,” Butters said.

“It (Gray rating Butters) gives me belief and he’s first class and is so easy and nice to learn off.

“He’s a great guy and I can’t ask for anything more.”

While he impressed with his work around goals and on the field, Butters has also attracted attention for — of all things — his last name.

With ‘Butters' a well-known character in South Park, there’s been no shortage of references across the pre-season and Round 1 when the Port Adelaide youngster has gotten his hands on the ball.

But Butters is adamant it’s a reference that hasn’t caught on at Alberton.

“Nah I think it’s just the fans,” he said.

“I think you’ve got to take it in your stride but I don’t try and take too much (notice) — I want to play my role for the team and win games of footy.”

So far, he’s off to a good start.

[LMA]

Sounds like a good kid with a good attitude

[carey]

1st 1/4 we were out worked by Carlton.
2nd 1/4 we were much better but very wasteful going forward.
The rain hit at half time and the rest was seriously ugly.

Take the 4 points and move on with a 2-0 start, I’ll take that.

Things I’ll take out of the game

Butters is going to be something special
Cripps is as good as any player in the comp, absolute jet
Rocky is back to his pig best
Boak is loving not having the Captain responsibility
Robbie needs to stop this diving crap, he is far to good for that
Love the look of Duursma, Drew, Ringa Ringa and of course Butters for the future.
Umpires seriously have no understanding of the game both ways.

[Booney]

Club welcomes Fed Govt 3-year commitment to Shanghai

David Koch and Minister Simon Bermingham press conference " 30 March 2019| PTV

Port Adelaide welcomes Federal Government's three-year commitment to Shanghai game

THE AFL premiership season match in China, first played in 2017, will now form part of a broader promotion of Australia in China. 

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, The Hon Simon Birmingham, today announced a three-year commitment to the AFL game in China, which in 2019 will form part of the ‘Festival of Australia.’

‘Festival of Australia’ is a program of activity across ten cities in China between 20 May and 2 June, that highlights Australia’s premium food and wine, aged care, innovation, education, investment, culture, tourism and sport. The Festival of Australia culminates in the AFL match between Port Adelaide and St Kilda at the Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium, on 2 June 2019. 

“China and Australia have deep commercial and cultural ties, built over many years, but there is significant opportunity to grow exports of quality Australian products and services to the world’s biggest consumer market,” said Minister Birmingham. 

“As well as promoting premium Australian food and beverages, the Festival will highlight Australia’s capability in healthcare, culture, tourism, sports, education, financial services, business and innovation spheres.”

This is a new model of engagement between Australia and China, which transcends trade, tourism, investment as well as sport and culture, to promote Australia in China and enhance interactions between the peoples of both countries. 

“The Liberal-National Government welcomes the new three year commitment to conducting this premiership game made by the two clubs and the AFL. We are committing up to $250,000 of annual Austrade support towards this initiative, in addition to $400,000 recently announced for Tourism Australia to be the official tourism sponsor of the 2019 Toyota AFL premiership game,” said Minister Birmingham.

The AFL and Port Adelaide Football Club, which have a Joint Venture to organise the annual AFL match in China, welcome the decision. 

“Today’s announcement is an incredible vote of confidence for what Port Adelaide is doing in China,” said Port Adelaide Chairman David Koch. 

“When we first played an official game in China in 2017, people were pleasantly surprised at what had been achieved. Now, the annual match which is to a large extent the product of Port Adelaide’s vision and excellence, is the anchor of a significant event for Australia in China. I couldn’t be prouder.

“This is the realisation of everything I thought this game could be,” said Koch. “Our sport brings people together. It is a great context around which people from all backgrounds can meet and network. Now, as the anchor of a broader program of business and cultural activity, the annual AFL match has found its rightful place on the landscape of the Australia-China relationship.

“I encourage all businesses with a focus on China, and all footy supporters, to be there. With the announcement of this Festival of Australia, all roads lead to Shanghai. I can’t wait.”

The AFL also welcomed this decision. 

“On behalf of the AFL, we thank the Government for their three-year commitment to support the Festival of Australia in China,” said AFL CEO Gill McLachlan.

“This support will ensure our game becomes a marquee event in the Australia-China business calendar.

“Today’s announcement and the Government’s commitment certifies the momentum built on the first two Shanghai matches extends into the future both on and off the field in China.”

[Booney]

A wins a win, they say, well, they would have been saying pretty much that and that alone on Saturday night after Port Adelaide held out Carlton by 16 points in a sometimes wet and blustery affair at Adelaide Oval.

Carlton put the first on the board as the very promising Harry McKay got out the back on the end of a chain of play for the first of his two opening quarter goals that was a sign of what we’d see several times throughout the day, Carlton linking up in the midfield and creating space for their forwards to run back into.

Port’s Brad Ebert responded soon after before Setterfield and Lycett exchanged majors as the first quarter turned into an entertaining 5 goal to 4 affair. Amon had gone down early with a medial knee strain and this left Port one rotation down, while Lycett was starting to exert his influence on the match, Rockliff racked up 12 first quarter touches and Boak was once again getting his ball on his hands in the midfield. Only a matter of time, I thought, however Carlton did have 19 I50’s for the quarter, they averaged 45 per game last year.

The second quarter was more like it, 4 goals to none and again Lycett was doing small man work after his big man duties were completed, another 12 touches to Rocky, back to back goals to Rozee (could have been 3), Motlop snares one (more on him later), and before half time 16 Port players have laid a tackle. Everything, at this point, suggests Port have begun to open Carlton up as we head to the main break +48 uncontested possessions and 19 points for the good.

After half time Setterfield goes into lockdown on Rockliff, it has an immediate impact as Carlton goal through Dow, McGovern and Polson. It’s at this point we see Marshall and Westhoff are having no influence on the contest in the drizzling rain as Weitering and Jones hold up Ports attack at half back, Ports zone doesn’t get set, Carlton get out the back and there’s space galore in Ports D50. Carlton are scoring in transition and Port are stuttering going forward. Butters stands up in the last 5 minutes and slots one with a steady head to give us our only goal of the quarter and one we needed as Carlton bagged 4. It was an ordinary spectacle, Port went at 47% by foot in the quarter, Carlton 50%.

Ebert steadies the ship with a goal in the first minute of the last after Lycett again played big man/small man roles before the worst news of the night unfolds in front of us, Jack Watts right ankle folds up underneath him in a Dale Thomas tackle and it’s clear it’s not good news. You’d have to have a cold heart to think he deserves such luck the bloke who, not for the first time mind you, looked to be on the up. Stinks.

From here on in Port took control of the game without putting Carlton away, Motlop kicked one to extend the lead and soon followed with another as junk time came around with Port 4 goals up. I’d barely noticed Motlop, I even commented he had no impact, then I see he’s had 22 touches, 5 tackles and 3 goals. Along with Lycett and Gray he played 100% game time and I could have sworn I didn’t see him that often. Safe to say the $9 beers won’t stop me!

Clearly best on was Lycett, big man stats of 34 hitouts and 25 touches added to small man stats of 10 clearances, 4 I50’s 5 marks and a goal completed his best ever individual return at AFL level, easily the best man on the ground. What an acquisition. Rockliff, slowed a little in the second half but still managed a lazy 37 touches and 12 clearances to again Pig up the Super/Dream/Coach/Team boards and Boak ended up with 33 touches, 9 tackles and 7 I50’s as he continued his run of form.

The good – Lycett, Rockliff, Boak, Ebert ( with 3 goals ), Rozee and Butters.

The not so – Watts season ending injury, Marshall and Westhoff held to 6 marks and 1 goal between them, back to back sub-10 disposal matches for Ryder, Carlton breaking down our zone.

A wins a win, they say.

Boon's best : Lycett, Boak, Rockliff, Ebert, Jonas, Gray

[Dutchy]

I went to a SANFL coaching workshop last night and the presenter was Carl Woods the new PAFC AFL skill Acquisition coach who was outstanding in challenging the way coaches think and develop their players.

He gave a great insight into the changes at Port over the Summer, they have turned everything upside down and challenged everything they have done in the past. Firstly they had to change the coaches mindset which was more difficult than the players. He admitted the players have been over coached in recent years which has stifled their creativity. He used the key words Adaptive and Creative all night. Training is much more unstructured now to match the chaos of a game scenario.

One example he gave was in 2018 the defence had a rule that they had to hit 2 short kicks before anyone could play on or handball, hence why they were so slow coming out of defence.

They are also focusing heavily this year on players using their non dominant side much more often, they are keeping stats on it and it has improved from 2018 but they have a fair way to go, their players have used it 55 times so far, the competition low is Sydney with 17.

They have done a lot of work on their reaction to turnovers both ways, and showed some vision from the Port game on how they are spreading the field when the opposition turnover the ball and how they compress the field when they do.

I have only seen a small amount of Port so far, are Port fans seeing the changes?

[Booney]

Absolutely I've seen it.

Particularly when coming out of defence, there's been far less sideways movement, I wouldn't say we've been going "long" from defence as Rockliff, Houston and Burton ( in the main ) have been hitting 20-30m kicks but they've been more direct in their movements, as in moving up field as opposed to laterally.

From that we're centering the ball across half back and the middle of the ground meaning our attacking options open up going forward as opposed to coming up the wing and really only having one side of the front half to play with. Our heat maps suggest we're going through the corridor more.