Port (Blood) Sport

[goswannie14]

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.

It was always to stop the Port licence being granted that the SANFL stepped in. I thought it was stupid at the time, possibly now the local league is paying the price for it.

[wolftone57]

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)



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.

I come from there and I can tell you that if they had have brought Port and Norwood in at the time you could have written off VFL/AFL Footy in SA. The other team supporters would never support those two sides. I'm a Glenelg supporter and ex-member and it was discussed at the time and every supporter I spoke to said they would either follow the team they currently follow or none. Not one said they would follow Port or Norwood. Every person I knew at the time that wasn't a Port or Norwood supporter would not follow them. They are both hated by the opposition supporters. By the way Glenelg has a far greater support base than Norwood and was never hated. Central even greater and even though they are successful no-one hates them they just don't want them to win a premiership for a few years.