Port Magpies

[Big Phil]

There is going to be something on the Magpies tonight on channel 9 news...

[fish]

The Magpies have been without doubt the greatest club in this state. For them to fold and leave the league, I think, relegates the SANFL unquestionably to a shadow of its former self.

The Magpies were the greatest club in the state last century, agreed.

But these days they are a mess both on and off the field so I fail to see the logic that with them gone the standard or status of the SANFL will be diminished. Surely spreading the talent over eight teams instead of nine will result in a higher overall standard?

Its not so much standard as it is who the opposition is... you could desolve the league as it is now and have 8 teams called TTG, Smithfield, Hackham West and so on, with the only team from the current SANFL being, lets say, Centrals, winning the flag then would hardly be all that interesting to anyone compared to the prestige of winning one in an earlier era.

That's just how I would feel... beating Hackham West by 6 goals in a grannie just doesn't have the same ring to it as beating Port Adelaide or Norwood for example.

OK taken to that extreme I see your point. But we are only looking at losing Port at this stage so the comp with the eight remaining teams would be stronger if anything.

Having said that I would prefer it if Port could stay, for two main reasons. First - for the sake of the loyal supporters who have stuck with the magpies since the Power formed, and second - so Centrals can, someday, get a chance to avenge the '95 and '96 Grand Final losses to Port.

[robranosgod]

True MP, I also believe North's early 00's plight along with Sturt's of the 90's were both much worse than what we currently face.

North's plight was a bit different. They had taken a punt on licenced premises and a certain hypocritical politician got into bed with the Hotel's Association to try to kill them. Financially North were recovering well until the hypocrite stepped in. He failed, of course, because North are now very financial. The three worst cases financially, prior to Port, have been South in 1990, Glenelg in 1990 and Sturt in 1995. South and Glenelg survived at the time because of the advent of the Crows (I wonder if Torrens would have survived if they had waited a couple of months).

[beenreal]

Having said that I would prefer it if Port could stay, for two main reasons. First - for the sake of the loyal supporters who have stuck with the magpies since the Power formed, and second - so Centrals can, someday, get a chance to avenge the '95 and '96 Grand Final losses to Port.

And I for one would love to give you the opportunity.

[Conrad Gates]

I'll happily play for the Maggies for 2/3rds of bugger all. Mind you, I'll be 34 next season and am rapidly losing whatever pace I ever had...

[Booney]

True MP, I also believe North's early 00's plight along with Sturt's of the 90's were both much worse than what we currently face.

North's plight was a bit different. They had taken a punt on licenced premises and a certain hypocritical politician got into bed with the Hotel's Association to try to kill them. Financially North were recovering well until the hypocrite stepped in. He failed, of course, because North are now very financial. The three worst cases financially, prior to Port, have been South in 1990, Glenelg in 1990 and Sturt in 1995. South and Glenelg survived at the time because of the advent of the Crows (I wonder if Torrens would have survived if they had waited a couple of months).

As Port have, the Prince of Wales is not reaping the rewards they would have hoped.

There is a gaming room, but with no PUB TAB and no drive through it really is a "Ma and Pa" type pub where a cheap meal and $5 in the pokies is the go. As opposed to the Alberton which thrives on the back of a Front Bar with TAB, big meals area with quality food and a drive through which I, err, I mean lots of people use.

[mick]

True MP, I also believe North's early 00's plight along with Sturt's of the 90's were both much worse than what we currently face.

North's plight was a bit different. They had taken a punt on licenced premises and a certain hypocritical politician got into bed with the Hotel's Association to try to kill them. Financially North were recovering well until the hypocrite stepped in. He failed, of course, because North are now very financial. The three worst cases financially, prior to Port, have been South in 1990, Glenelg in 1990 and Sturt in 1995. South and Glenelg survived at the time because of the advent of the Crows (I wonder if Torrens would have survived if they had waited a couple of months).

Is there any other type? I for one would hate to see the magpies fold, but no byes would be nice.

[am Bays]

The three worst cases financially, prior to Port, have been South in 1990, Glenelg in 1990 and Sturt in 1995. South and Glenelg survived at the time because of the advent of the Crows (I wonder if Torrens would have survived if they had waited a couple of months).

Glenelg not even close to that. Failed property development (1989/1990 interest rate bubble) left a hole but we traded out of it due to cost cutting (still waiting for my 1990 honorium) and renegotiating our council loan. Maximum debt was $285 000 IIRC.

The advent of the Crows actually cost us money based on 1990, 1991 and 1992 annual reports.

Glenelg have never had to rattle the cans or stage a rally/march to save the club.

Closest we've come to is to request the SANFL to come in and review our business plans and books etc to see how we can actually improve the running of our club when Hoody was President.

[sjt]

What some people seem to forget is that when the Port came into the AFL, they themselves wanted the doors closed on the Maggies. . Well guess what, after propping other teams up with attendances with 34% of the supporter base, Port did their bit, the SANFL need to take some responsibility and lend some support, or they are a bunch of hypocrites. 2nd highest away crowds, largest membership, they need to help out.


1. strip back to bear bones by not signing any interstate recruits to new contracts and only honour the existing ones such as Miekejohn and Clayton. Noone else gets one unless its a standard one. A culture has slipped in where some play for the love of money, instead of love of the club, as they have tried to keep up with 10 GRAND a week CENTRAL in pokie heaven in the North. THis should save some money straight away.


5. Let Port and South share the first 5 picks of the mini - draft. Port the first 3 and South the next 2 for being bottom, only for this year, under the proviso that they dont pay new players from interstate ( Port only ). These players wont come under the magpies pay structure, so more money saved.

6. being facetious here, maybe the SANFL should pay 34% of their dividend to Port commensurate with their percentage of members in the league.

at the end of the day, you cant compare their plight with Sturt, North, South in the past as no other teams support base is asked to support 2 teams, the Maggies and the Power. The Sanfl have made their bed, now they have to lie in it and give Port some assistance to get a workable model together.

Any thoughts ?

Ahh Statistics by your definition if they have 34% of the supporter base that would equate to a weekend crowd at the SANFL of 10,000, 3,400 being Port supporters. No way would I believe this.

Re the Draft they'll benefit also by virtue of where they've finished anyway. i didn't have much sympathy for them when they got Lockwood, Gilligan, Surjan and prob more via their affiliation with the Power. Yes, times have changed.

Yes the SANFL has to be accountable and help as much as they've helped other clubs. Port also has to be accountable. Post 1997 they must have implimented a poor business plan which they are now seeking to remediate.
How can you infer by Port having a significant supporter base in the SANFL is a negative? Surely they should be in a prime position to leverage off this.
What's a Port memebership $50 or so?

[Edward Teach]

Port must be saved.

A lot of clubs have been through this and worse (Sturt, North) and have not whinged anywhere near this much. I can recall a lot of Port people giving no sympathy either and saying f-off etc.

Port need some decent financial managers. Sturt are struggling hugely financially and still made GF so financial does not equal success on field - Port fans that claim that are full of it and need to place blame on a p*ss weak coach.

Footy clubs are now deriving significant income from Pokies. Port area is chock-full of pokie players. Try being in Unley and even Norwood - where basically no-one goes near pokies and try to make a buck!

If the Power can't cut it then let Sturt/Norwood have a crack based at Adelaide Oval. With an AFL licence we sure as hell will not go broke!

[Booney]

For $140 you can have your name on a board forever at Alberton.

http://www.portmagpies.com.au/news.php?news_id=513

[LPH]

Port must be saved.

A lot of clubs have been through this and worse (Sturt, North) and have not whinged anywhere near this much. I can recall a lot of Port people giving no sympathy either and saying f-off etc.

Port need some decent financial managers. Sturt are struggling hugely financially and still made GF so financial does not equal success on field - Port fans that claim that are full of it and need to place blame on a p*ss weak coach.

Footy clubs are now deriving significant income from Pokies. Port area is chock-full of pokie players. Try being in Unley and even Norwood - where basically no-one goes near pokies and try to make a buck!

If the Power can't cut it then let Sturt/Norwood have a crack based at Adelaide Oval. With an AFL licence we sure as hell will not go broke!

BULL*HIT!!!

Why should the other 8 SANFL Clubs have to bail them out - just like the 1.5 Million HANDOUT given to their 'Teal Overlords'???

1st rule of business... never throw good money @ bad.
1st rule of punting... don't chase your losses.

No to a merger... Who with?
(Unsurprisingly, many on here have sunk the slipper into us again - WWTPAFC)

Pfft, Let Them Die... they should've done in 1997, would've saved alot of angst & all of Woddy & Cola.

[Booney]

"Woddy and Cola" ? If you are going to fire shots mate, make sure they aren't blanks.

Funny how you are so negative towards other clubs LEH, I would have thought you would be understanding of people who support a club in a poor financial state.

You know how hard it is to lose your club, have to merge with another meagre unit and end up with an identity crisis that takes decades to fix.

[Edward Teach]

I understand your logic - but I think that the SANFL needs a Port Adelaide Team. Their current club is a shell of the old Port but so are all the SANFL clubs since AFL. I also disagreed the the WWT merger by the way as WT should have been saved as a stand alone.

Just because a 100 year old club in a 100 year old competition makes a few bad decisions and lands a f*cked up Management team and coach at the same time is NO reason to axe them from the competition without trying everything.

Port need to stop the whinging and get professional. Only cowards cut and run when the going gets hot. Do they want to be another Fitzroy that couldn't hack it?

With all their problems they should STILL be able to do better than at least 1/4 of the SANFL clubs financially.

If PMFC chuck it then the SANFL should also review PAFC's AFL licence.

[LPH]

"Woddy and Cola" ? If you are going to fire shots made, make sure they aren't blanks.

Funny how you are so negative towards other clubs LEH, I would have thought you would be understanding of people who support a club in a poor financial state.

You know how hard it is to lose your club, have to merge with another meagre unit and end up with an identity crisis that takes decades to fix.

What was your reaction to WTFC & WFC merging, Booney?
I have plenty of sympathy for clubs like Fitzroy - who (like my club Torrens) DIED because of the underhanded behaviour of a certain Mr. Webber... remind me again which club he was president of & why they (like us) had to die???
Pfft!!

Always against the possibility of Sturt & North merger - still am against mergers.

Don't you DARE suggest that I should support/prop-up the VERY CLUB that caused the demise of my own club!!!
I am many things but a HYPOCRIT, I am most certainly NOT.

I will go to my grave hating what YOUR club not only did to mine but to our competition - & every chance I get to REMIND you lot of that, I will

[MagareyLegend]

Move Port to Richmond, West to Glenelg, Glenelg to Noarlunga and piss South off out of the comp.

[Booney]

"Woddy and Cola" ? If you are going to fire shots made, make sure they aren't blanks.

Funny how you are so negative towards other clubs LEH, I would have thought you would be understanding of people who support a club in a poor financial state.

You know how hard it is to lose your club, have to merge with another meagre unit and end up with an identity crisis that takes decades to fix.

What was your reaction to WTFC & WFC merging, Booney?
I have plenty of sympathy for clubs like Fitzroy - who (like my club Torrens) DIED because of the underhanded behaviour of a certain Mr. Webber... remind me again which club he was president of & why they (like us) had to die???
Pfft!!

Always against the possibility of Sturt & North merger - still am against mergers.

Don't you DARE suggest that I should support/prop-up the VERY CLUB that caused the demise of my own club!!!
I am many things but a HYPOCRIT, I am most certainly NOT.

I will go to my grave hating what YOUR club not only did to mine but to our competition - & every chance I get to REMIND you lot of that, I will

Well yes, of course, I was right beside Mr.Webber when all this transpired so you are well within your rights to have a go at me.

My reaction to that merger was somewhat over shadowed by the arrival of the Crows and SA's entry to the AFL. I'll admit at the time I didn't really think about it alot and still dont. I'd rather have the chance to merge than just "die" like you would like to see us do.

Dont you think it is time to look forward and not back? Hypocrite you may not be, but bitter you sure are.

[LPH]

Booney...

Let's say the worst happens & PAMFC dies... will you be bitter?
Oh, that's right - you have another PAFC in another competition to support.

Hmmm...

[Booney]

I wont be bitter because I cant see it ( the Magpies dying ) happening.

Of course I would be less than happy if they failed to exist, but would I still be crying foul over it in 20 years time? Might have moved on by then.

[csbowes]

Just because a 100 year old club in a 100 year old competition makes a few bad decisions and lands a f*cked up Management team and coach at the same time is NO reason to axe them from the competition without trying everything.

Ed... you're a star... that says it perfectly.