Port (Blood) Sport

[Kirkari]

I love this quote for sheer optimism in the face of harsh reality:
"It is a good sign for Port that the players are so serious about their training. "

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/punch-up-at-port-training/story-e6frf9jf-1226216081596

Maybe Fev WOULD add a touch of class to the side.

[ShockOfHair]

After all, it IS Port.

I like the idea of Fev joining Port. Two basket cases getting together to redeem themselves.

Fev and the young gun John Butcher Port would be a potent combination.... and that's before they get on the field!

Been a long off-season.

[Sandridge]

I love this quote for sheer optimism in the face of harsh reality:
"It is a good sign for Port that the players are so serious about their training. "

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/punch-up-at-port-training/story-e6frf9jf-1226216081596

Maybe Fev WOULD add a touch of class to the side.

Yes, they're certainly heading in the right direction. And it puts them so far ahead of all the other teams who aren't taking their training seriously!

[stellation]

Should have signed Setanta.

[wolftone57]

Port are between a rock and a hard place. The majority of South Australians hate them. Port Adelaide in the SANFL was only loved by their supporters, everyone else hates them. When the AFL insisted on giving Port the second license in South Australia they stuffed up. As an AFL team Port are going to struggle to get enough support to make them viable as 7/8ths of South Australia hate them. A composite team like the Crows would have been preferable. They have managed to wrest some support away from the Crows but not enough to make a difference. It would be like taking Collingwood as one of two Victorian teams and asking Vics to support them, some would but about between 70 & 80% wouldn't.

[goswannie14]

I think that the move to Adelaide Oval will be good for them. Much easier access than the other ground. If they get crowds similar to what they got for their last game of the season there they will be able to turn their financial position around. It will take time, but their support will grow. It all takes time.

[wolftone57]

In actual fact Footy Park is right in the middle of the SANFL Port Traditional area. Woodville had trouble getting any support after the SANFL introduced them in the Sixties. I don't see that the move is going to make any difference except that it is a smaller ground, fitting less people. At least it will look like they have some support at games at Adelaide Oval I suppose.

[goswannie14]

The crowd they had at the Adelaide Oval in the last round was their largest crowd in a few years. Most of the Port supporters I know don't live in Port Adelaide, so it just confirms it is far easier to get to then Football Park.

[wolftone57]

The crowd they had at the Adelaide Oval in the last round was their largest crowd in a few years. Most of the Port supporters I know don't live in Port Adelaide, so it just confirms it is far easier to get to then Football Park.

I agree with you as to the newer supporters or the younger supporters don't live there. But Port is still Port hated by all but the rabid Port supporters. Lucky to get 40,000 to 50,000 and then you have to get them to the games. I still think another composite side would have been better. One side could have all the zone to the North and the other the South. Poor old Port, even though a wonderful club that does a hell of a lot more for the community the the Crows, they are going to have to battle to survive.

[goswannie14]

They will battle, and they will, as a result, become a stronger side. They are hated by "non-Port supporters" in Adelaide because they have been successful. They will become more involved in the community and become more successful but it may take some time. They have a far greater chance of survival than some of the Melbourne based clubs.

[wolftone57]

They will battle, and they will, as a result, become a stronger side. They are hated by "non-Port supporters" in Adelaide because they have been successful. They will become more involved in the community and become more successful but it may take some time. They have a far greater chance of survival than some of the Melbourne based clubs.

Goswannie they are hated for more than being successful. Their fans are feral. I can remember leaving a match at Alberton Oval (the home of Port Magpies) after Glenelg gave them a hiding. The Port supporters were bashing any person (man, woman or child) with a Glenelg scarf. This was not a one off as it happened regularly. Port Power has not inherited many of these thugs thank goodness but they are stained by the relationship. Port and Collingwood supporters have a similar reputation and we all know how Vics hate Collingwood if they don't follow them. It doesn't even matter if they are not successful as a matter of fact the other supporters will put the boot in twice as hard

[goswannie14]

Goswannie they are hated for more than being successful. Their fans are feral. I can remember leaving a match at Alberton Oval (the home of Port Magpies) after Glenelg gave them a hiding. The Port supporters were bashing any person (man, woman or child) with a Glenelg scarf. This was not a one off as it happened regularly. Port Power has not inherited many of these thugs thank goodness but they are stained by the relationship. Port and Collingwood supporters have a similar reputation and we all know how Vics hate Collingwood if they don't follow them. It doesn't even matter if they are not successful as a matter of fact the other supporters will put the boot in twice as hard

The sad thing about that is that I have heard similar about Crows supporters in their early days in the AFL. Must be an Adelaide thing.

[Big Al]

Adelaide: The North Melbourne of the Commonwealth.

[wolftone57]

The sad thing about that is that I have heard similar about Crows supporters in their early days in the AFL. Must be an Adelaide thing.

In the early days a section of the crowd going to Crows games were Port Magpie Supporters. When Port Power entered the comp most of them went over to the Power. If there is one thing they can't handle it is lack of success. They have been used to winning premierships at Port Magpies and can't stant losing. The funny thing is that Port Magpies are not winning them either anymore. The only clubs to win premierships in the SANFL since 2000 are Central, Eagles and Sturt. Central have won 9 out of 12. This must piss Port supporters off as much of Central District zone used to be Port zone up until redistributions in the '80's &'90's. It was really weird in the '70's that Central Districts, which is based around Elizabeth/Salisbury couldn't pick kids from Salisbury because they were zoned to a club some 25 kilometres away.

[R-1]

In actual fact Footy Park is right in the middle of the SANFL Port Traditional area. Woodville had trouble getting any support after the SANFL introduced them in the Sixties. I don't see that the move is going to make any difference except that it is a smaller ground, fitting less people. At least it will look like they have some support at games at Adelaide Oval I suppose.

It'll make a lot of difference. Footy Park is in West Lakes, sure, and that's in the geographical northeast. But it's a nightmare to get to. No public transport, choked streets, in the middle of nowhere. Footy Park is convenient for, like, five suburbs. For the rest, including much of the Port Adelaide area, Adelaide Oval is easier simply because of the train line. If you live five blocks from Alberton Oval like my grandmother, I think you'd much rather have to get to Adelaide Oval than Footy Park. And being in the city there's far more to do before and after the games.

In addition, Footy Park is cold, windswept and has crap facilities. It's no wonder Port and Crows crowds drop off so dramatically when they're losing. If I had to attend a ground that was more unpleasant than ANZ just to see my team get flogged, I wouldn't do it either. Adelaide Oval will be a huge boost - a lot easier for everyone to get to and lot more pleasant once they're there. It'll raise attendance plenty, and certainly keep Port Adelaide crowds above what the Bulldogs, Demons and Kangaroos draw.

(oh and once it's upgraded it'll hold slightly more than Footy Park currently does)

Port are between a rock and a hard place. The majority of South Australians hate them. Port Adelaide in the SANFL was only loved by their supporters, everyone else hates them. When the AFL insisted on giving Port the second license in South Australia they stuffed up. As an AFL team Port are going to struggle to get enough support to make them viable as 7/8ths of South Australia hate them. A composite team like the Crows would have been preferable. They have managed to wrest some support away from the Crows but not enough to make a difference. It would be like taking Collingwood as one of two Victorian teams and asking Vics to support them, some would but about between 70 & 80% wouldn't.

I actually think they stuffed up by bringing in a de facto state side in 1991. Imagine if it had been Port coming in, in 1991, and Norwood a few years later. There'd probably be room for three sides now if they hadn't created the Crows to screw Port out of the AFL license. We'd probably be talking about the entry of Central Districts right now instead of wondering about the future of South Australian football.