Think you'll find Port want to keep some of zone as part of their business model (connection with the community and all that palaver - what they argued successfully for their 2014 model) so these changes are based on one scenario which may not happen.
Not sure it matters, Port will be still involved on the Eyre Peninsula regardless....
http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2014-06-11/port-adelaide-affirms-commitment-to-eyre-peninsula
AT last weekend’s Mortlock Shield carnival, the Port Adelaide Football Club announced two very important long term partnerships highlighting the club’s extended commitment to one of its ‘heartland’ communities, the Eyre Peninsula.
The Port Adelaide Football Club will become a Bronze Sponsor of the Mortlock Shield competition and will be the major sponsor of the Under 15 Port Adelaide Cup. Both sponsorships are long term commitments, with the initial agreement for both 2015 and 2016, providing an important boost to football in the region.
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said the club is delighted to continue its long-standing relationship with the Eyre Peninsula community.
“Port Adelaide has been honoured to have been zoned to the Eyre Peninsula since 1972, and despite the changes to our recruiting zones in 2015 we will not be turning our back on that partnership,” said Mr Thomas.
“Community is at the very core at what drives us and the Eyre Peninsula has been a critical part of the Port Adelaide community for over 40 years and we look forward to continuing our partnership with football on the Eyre Peninsula.”
Mr Thomas said that impending changes to the SANFL recruiting zones would prevent Port Adelaide from being the zoned SANFL club for the Eyre Peninsula. However, he reaffirmed that Port Adelaide, through its sponsorship of the Mortlock Shield and the Port Adelaide Cup, would do everything it could to continue to support the region.
.....
“In 2015 there will be another SANFL League Club zoned to the Eyre Peninsula, and we look forward to working with them to ensure football on the Eyre Peninsula continues to prosper.”
No doubt someone will still see a negative in this though ?
Any chance Norwood will thank us for pumping money into their zone ?
I will! (Thanks Port :D )
Port continue to play to their greatest strength of community ties and further distance themself from their local rival on that front imho.