am Bays wrote:Drifter ask yourself the question was it fair that SANFL clubs had to adapt in 18 weeks to the formation of the Crows when port magpies had 18 months to adapt to the formation of the Power?? This when clubs were coming out of the late 80s debt bubble, and projected revenue streams based on a planned entry into the AFL in 1993 by an SANFL were suddenly reduced???
If Port were allowed in first they wouldnt of have to do it in 18 weeks, the SANFL was delaying the inevitable with things like the retention scheme.
Don't forget Port wouldn't be anything without the rest of the competition too. Yes you sent fans our way but I remember being in 12 000 plus crowds at Alberton Oval when the Bays played their in the late 70s and early 80s. Bays fans parting with their hard earned for your bar and food prices. Same as Norwood, Sturt, Torrens and North fans...
Certainly, the door swings both ways, but Port in those days contributed a higher percentage of supporters followed by probably Norwood
So it is very rich of Port people to expect the events of 1990 to be forgotten when other SANFL clubs had to tighten the belt and survive or in the case of two clubs merge, soon as it gets hard for Port the hand goes out...
A week ago I wanted the Magpies to survive as they are intrinsically linked to the fabric of the SANFL and all that I hold so dear about the best footy competition in the land. However when I think rationally what's best for my club and the SANFL competition I think:
1. An SANFL dividend to the SANFL clubs being divided by 8 instead of nine = more $$$ for my club and the others
2. An 8 team 21 game a year season = 21 home games for my club over two years compared to 20 homes games over two years as it is now = more $$$ for my club or at least break even.
3. Non SANFL based AFL players being distributed across 8 clubs instead of 9 more chances for my club to get quality players (hopefully we are always in the top four at least so we miss out anyway

)
4. No artificially stronger SANFL club (or clubs make no mistake the Crows will want this too, in time) loaded with AFL players with an unfair advantage as witnessed in the WAFL 14 years ago.
5. with a reduction in SANFL clubs an increase in my clubs recruiting zone - people of the Leferve penisnula get ready for your young guns to start wearing Blue Gold and Green (can't play for the Power unless they at least play SANFL), Westies will get back some of their old western suburbs zone and North will get back some territory West of prospect Rd.
Whilst a part of me will miss not having Port in the competition and for diehard Magpies fans on here such as No-Mercy, Pipers, Booney, GWW, Macca19, and Magpiespower I will feel for them that something they hold so dear and have grown up with has been taken away, the reality is the SANFL competion will survive if the Magpies fall over.
The other unmistakable reality is this mess is Ports own making as one astute commentator on here said Port made the decision to live by the sword, they may well have to die by it. Port people may not want to admit it but the sword that could well deliver the fatal blow to the Magpies will be the one un-sheathed by Bruce Webber.
Port people may accuse me of being self serving and narrow minded in this post and yep probably I am, maybe a little bit of the Port Adelaide that Chocco tried to instill at the Bay in 1993-94 is starting to come out in me....