Port Magpies

[eaglehaslanded]

It would be fair to say the Port Magpies are in more than a spot of bother - players walking out on the club left, right and centre, financial difficulties so big they could have sunk the titanic. One wonders where to next for the Magpies.

Which of the following scenarios is more likely:

(A) Merge with Port Adelaide Power and continue in the SANFL as a reserves based side for the AFL entity - it should be then said the Crows would likely lobby the SANFL to field a side in the SANFL as a reserves based side for their AFL entity thus meaning 10 side competition with no byes.

(B) Merge with an existing SANFL side - thus meaning an 8 side competition with no byes.

(C) Fold leaving no Port Adelaide side in the SANFL for the first time in competition history - thus meaning an 8 side competition with no byes.

(D) Receive financial assistance from SANFL continiung to play on - thus meaning a continuance of the 9 sides with byes.

[Mark_Beswick]

OPTION D

Would hope every SANFL side would fight to allow drafted players from thier side to the Power then play against them. Whats the point of junior development if they play against your own side.

Also the mini-draft adds something to league sides.

We need Port, Sturt etc ... If its OK to bail out the power, then all the SANFL clubs should receive support.

[PhilH]

From what I have read the decision on the Magpies lies in the hands of the nine SANFL clubs NOT the SANFL commission.

That is important.

Generally the clubs will vote for what is best for their club, they will not take a financial hit NOR will they allow AFL clubs to have a "reserves" team in the SANFL as happened for a few years to the dertriment of the WAFL.

So unless the Magpies can come up with a long term sustainable business plan the options as I see them are
C)
then
B) (but who would they merge with, there is nothing anything close to the natural fit that Woodville and West Torrens were).

Can't see either A or D happening if it is up to the SANFL clubs.

Time will tell but things could go downhill very quickly IF the Magpies go public and IF their finances are as bad is starting to be reported on.

Most business organisations work on a "going concern" principle. Hard to see if the Magpies are going to fold up that they will go one more year even with SANFL guarantees reportedly required to keep the doors open. Who would agree to be recruited there? Who would sponsor for one last year or put in fundraising dollars? Who will take on any admin roles? Would be a crazy season knowing it would be the last.





It means at some point, someone (probably only the SANFL fits the bill) will need to go guarantor for operations to continue to a point finishing up.

[mighty_tiger_79]

they are probably suffering because the POwer dont make much of a contribution to the SANFL

[bayman]

they are probably suffering because the POwer dont make much of a contribution to the SANFL

i must have missed something because i didn't think they had made any contributions at all

[LBJ8]

McDermott said on 5aa that a crows and power reserves side would add to the standard of the comp and the league would be better for it - NO WAY would it be better, i think it would completely drain even more of the quality players over another team, the salary cap is already going down and recruiting interstate is getting harder and harder with the transfer fees involved, plus it would be ridiculous to see players that you developed through the under age comps play against your club in the sanfl.

Not sure how a merger would work, are Westies struggling too? that's the only way it could work imo but would they be called the west adelaide magppies or some totally new identity? you couldn't have the eagles merge with them, what would it be then the woodville-west torrens-port adelaide eagles

[bayman]

McDermott said on 5aa that a crows and power reserves side would add to the standard of the comp and the league would be better for it - NO WAY would it be better, i think it would completely drain even more of the quality players over another team, the salary cap is already going down and recruiting interstate is getting harder and harder with the transfer fees involved, plus it would be ridiculous to see players that you developed through the under age comps play against your club in the sanfl.

Not sure how a merger would work, are Westies struggling too? that's the only way it could work imo but would they be called the west adelaide magppies or some totally new identity? you couldn't have the eagles merge with them, what would it be then the woodville-west torrens-port adelaide eagles

another idiot trying to cheapen the competition & this is the same competition that gave him a start .......i would do the exact opposite if i was in charge of the sanfl i'd be saying that afl listed players can play in the vfl & fly to melbourne each week to play just like simon feast did when on sydneys list & he played at port melbourne.....fcku them

[85 WAS A GOOD YEAR]

McDermott said on 5aa that a crows and power reserves side would add to the standard of the comp and the league would be better for it - NO WAY would it be better, i think it would completely drain even more of the quality players over another team, the salary cap is already going down and recruiting interstate is getting harder and harder with the transfer fees involved, plus it would be ridiculous to see players that you developed through the under age comps play against your club in the sanfl.

Not sure how a merger would work, are Westies struggling too? that's the only way it could work imo but would they be called the west adelaide magppies or some totally new identity? you couldn't have the eagles merge with them, what would it be then the woodville-west torrens-port adelaide eagles

another idiot trying to cheapen the competition & this is the same competition that gave him a start .......i would do the exact opposite if i was in charge of the sanfl i'd be saying that afl listed players can play in the vfl & fly to melbourne each week to play just like simon feast did when on sydneys list & he played at port melbourne.....fcku them

I was listening but believe it was the caller that made the suggestion, not Chris. I cannot recall him agreeing with him, just discussing it.

Look at GC17 set up next year - based and train in Qld, then play matches in VFL comp. These lads are certainly gonna get aclimatised to travelling and playing away from home.

[PhilH]

Chris suggested it in writing in the Sunday Mail about 3 years back, went something along the lines of dermerge the Eagles, Sent Torrens back to Thebarton, Woodville to be the Crows reserves, Magpies to be Power Reserves in a 10 team comp.

[Psyber]

There is no way Port or the Crows would, or should, be allowed to dominate the SANFL competition.
And they would if they fielded reserve teams made up of the best available players in SA, not already playing at AFL level...
My preferred option for the Magpies was always C) but B) would be tolerable.

As I said elsewhere, they could merge with the Eagles and reform the old Port Natives team.
But thinking seriously about it, I can't see any other team agreeing to merge with a team so badly off financially.
It could only happen if the other clubs agree to the SANFL bailing them out as part of the merger deal.
So that looks like a long shot too.
Bankruptcy beckons, I reckon...

[eaglehaslanded]

My Preference is (C) they only have themselves to blame if the had to fold but (B) wouldn't be a bad option for the SANFL either. If they were to merge the logical choice would be Westies perhaps call them Western Magpies

[mackdaddy]

they are probably suffering because the POwer dont make much of a contribution to the SANFL

i must have missed something because i didn't think they had made any contributions at all

the power are obviously making a significant contribution to the SANFL... regardless of the small crowds. If they werent then the SANFL would happily hand Power games to Adelaide oval... but theyre not!

the power is working its arse off for the SANFL... SANFL won't give the power a better deal, instead they say its the powers problem and they have to lift crowd numbers... why? to keep the money rolling into the SANFL. Rather than helping the power out and helping promo the power they are jus leaving it for the power to do! Effectively the power is in a lose lose situation becoz the SANFL controls the licensce but is making the power do all the work!

and the magpies arent going anywhere! players walking out on the club isnt a problem becoz its the culture these players have developed that has been the problem!

[eaglehaslanded]

the power are obviously making a significant contribution to the SANFL... regardless of the small crowds. If they werent then the SANFL would happily hand Power games to Adelaide oval... but theyre not!

Mate I think you'll find the Power have made very little contribution to the SANFL. As to the reason why Port don't play at Adelaide Oval that is the AFL's decision. They don't want AFL footy at Adelaide Oval.

[mackdaddy]

haha
wat would you no "eagleshaslanded" ???
im pretty sure i no alot more about my own club than you!

[Barto]

Chris suggested it in writing in the Sunday Mail about 3 years back, went something along the lines of dermerge the Eagles, Sent Torrens back to Thebarton, Woodville to be the Crows reserves, Magpies to be Power Reserves in a 10 team comp.

If the Eagles weren't a viable club on their own then surely splitting them in two would just create two more basket cases. The fact that they are profitable and relatively successful since the merger means there's no reason to split them.

McDermott is a lunatic.

So where are all the supporters that packed out Football Park for the 1998 Grand Final? Somehow the Magpies are suddenly not worth saving according to the majority of Port fans. I wonder if it'd be different if it was they who had played 10 grand finals in a row and not languished in the bottom half of the ladder in recent years.

[GWW]

As to the reason why Port don't play at Adelaide Oval that is the AFL's decision. They don't want AFL footy at Adelaide Oval.

That would be news to quite a few people if it were true.

I'd like to see your source for that comment.

[whatever]

they are probably suffering because the POwer dont make much of a contribution to the SANFL

i must have missed something because i didn't think they had made any contributions at all

That is crap and you know it but you wanted someone to bite.

It is the power who dont make money from home games, the SANFL certainly do.

Anyway

No reason why the power would want to be a joint identity with the magpies, especially when the magpies will bleed them for money.

Why would the SANFL throw money at a club dying on its own sword. OK IIRC they still attract the third highest crowd average for 09 so that gives them some incentive. But with an 8 team comp we will have four games every week, no need for weekends with only 3 games to even up the byes so crowds for the year may not drop off that much. SANFL will be tempted to merge to try and keep the supporters in the SANFL system but the only logical mergers are with Woodville west torrens, central districts and north adelaide all of which have neighbouring zones but surely the merged clubs cant keep both zones.

The SANFL will live in the hope that they can turn things around but without a financial security why bother.

As a Power supporter I hope the magpies can thrive but it just doesn't look like it will happen. The only thing that can save the magpies is if the new coach can actually develop the kids that have come up through the juniors into senior footballers.

[Barto]

Perhaps we can offer them a home. Black, white and light blue.

Hang on a minute ...

[Hondo]

I see the same pretend ignorance and the same flame posts every time this topic comes up

Here I was hoping we might finally get some sensible discussion going

Some of you can't help yourselves!

[The Apostle]

So where are all the supporters that packed out Football Park for the 1998 Grand Final? Somehow the Magpies are suddenly not worth saving according to the majority of Port fans. I wonder if it'd be different if it was they who had played 10 grand finals in a row and not languished in the bottom half of the ladder in recent years.

I WONDER TOO!!!

Cut the crap...Port Power is nothing but a blood-sucking parasite. The sooner Port Magpies unmerge from them and strike out on their own the better...