by CK » Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:56 pm
This is a transcript of a column I wrote for Sportsbeat about six weeks back. There were some minor changes in the published product, but may be worth throwing out there for debate on this topic:
WHERE, WHERE THE BLACK AND THE WHITE?
The Port football brand polarises football followers in South Australia like no other. As a young fan, you either love them or hate them. There is no middle ground for many, who believe they have plenty of good reason. Whether it be copping grand final humiliation at their hands in the SANFL, or losing a Showdown at AFL level, the name “Port” conjures up immediate reactions from many fans.
In 2009, however, the financial status of both clubs is in serious question. Port Adelaide are actively seeking assistance from the AFL and a more attractive stadium deal from the SANFL to reverse a trend that looks set to deliver a multi million dollar loss to the club. With attendances regularly falling below the 25,000 barrier, it is immediately apparent that many diehard supporters are not prepared to turn out and support the club. The SANFL situation for Port Magpies is also becoming a real concern. Sitting 0-4 on the ladder, attendances at Alberton Oval are falling to hitherto unseen levels since the entry of Port Adelaide into the AFL. Fans are simply not turning up to see the once fiercely proud club in action and the associated drop in revenue at bar, catering and gaming is making it harder for the club to actively recruit in the tougher marketplace.
While this situation is giving many rival fans a quiet snigger, the reality is that the South Australian football market needs two vibrant teams in the Port area to build upon the massive tradition of the region. The idea of simply providing financial handouts to both clubs is not one that is attractive to either the AFL or SANFL. Both bodies have stated they need Port to work through a number of other options before this will be considered.
The most obvious solution to the problem has been staring the clubs in the face for many years. While it is one that will involve a degree of working through histories and changing a wide range of long held philosophies, it is also one that will solve as many problems along the way on a number of levels.
The time has come to formally merge the entities of Port Magpies Football Club and the Port Adelaide Football Club to make one single club. To bring together the disjointed, conflicting and confusing historical arguments of the clubs to end the debate once and for all, and end the idea of there being two separate clubs.
There are many, many things to work through. Would it make sense to bring together the AFL players into one team for the SANFL arm? While many will say that it will make the team unreasonably strong, there will still be the requirement to field a Reserves team at SANFL and realistically, a number of AFL draftees will be at Reserves level in the early stages of their development anyway. The one way to negate the perceived strength of the club is through the SANFL salary cap. With AFL clubs paying the wages of SANFL based players, the club could then be restricted to a “standalone” players cap of $125,000, which is used specifically to recruit players that are not tied to the AFL arm.
What branding does the club hold? The Magpies logo is already tied to Collingwood, so it may mean the SANFL arm has to compromise and remain the Port Adelaide Power for the sake of SANFL. While it loses a large degree of tradition, there is nothing preventing the SANFL arm from retaining the current Magpies prison bar jumper on its own, while using the Power logo.
The real opportunity for fans to more actively attend both sets of games would be enhanced by being the same club at all levels. Imagine marketing going to see the SANFL club at 2.00pm at Alberton on a Saturday and then driving up the road to West Lakes for a 7.10pm start for the AFL arm. It gives the club a real opportunity to further build some real tradition – tradition that not other AFL club could realistically ever hope to have.
No doubt there are plenty of other issues to work through. Before critics howl the idea down, think of the very real alternative – losing one or both of the clubs in their current form, and losing so much history, tradition and honour. The financial states of both clubs are in, to quote a famous Magpie player, “Grave Danger”. It’s time to consider the option.
Can you guess where I'm calling from, the Las Vegas Hilton...
