Jack wrote:In round one against Richmond, 2018
I noticed what appeared to be patches on the back of their shorts ?
If so , this is probably not the first time this perceived tactic has taken place
The great magpie man Fos Williams had little patches sewn on the shorts of each of the Port players in a final [1950s I reckon]
The theory was that the opposition players would focus on the patches and wonder what they were, thus breaking their concentration
I had always thought that Fos had used the patches on the shorts in the 1950s, but according to that wonderful historian Trevor Gyss it occurred during round 10 of 1963 when Port played Norwood at Alberton. Port had lost 3 games in a row and 5 of the first 9 games and were struggling for form. According to Mr Gyss the patches were to remind the players to concentrate and think of the club and try their best! Whatever the reason for the patches, Port who were out of the four at the time defeated third place Norwood by 57 points and never looked back. They only lost two of their last 11 minor round games, went on to be minor premier and easily won the premiership.
1963 was one of the most evenly fought competitions where there were only 3 games separating top placed Port from 6th placed Sturt in an 8 team comp.