An article will appear in the Advertiser tomorrow morning which again presents a ‘hypothetical’ scenario where the Magpies could be removed from the SANFL competition as a result of the potential entry of a Crows development side, and the supposed need to treat both sides equally on this matter.
I want to stress that this is a hypothetical position. Our opportunity to present our Club’s case to the SANFL will occur in a week or so.
We will argue that there is no justification for both AFL Clubs needing to be treated the same on this matter. Indeed, the current arrangement is not like-for-like.
The Crows entered the AFL competition as a state team, ‘the team for all South Australians’.
We entered as an established Club, Port Adelaide. The Crows entered seven years ahead of our Club.
This has resulted in a market split of roughly 65% Crows, 35% Port. A distinct, enduring commercial impediment for Port Adelaide.
Also, my understanding is that the Crows will not object to Port Adelaide retaining its junior infrastructure.
From an SANFL viewpoint, we believe the SANFL competition is best served by limiting the amount of change to only those elements that strengthen it. Changes that will help make the competition more promotable, more entertaining, better connected to the community, more aspirational for kids.
I think it is hard to argue that disconnecting Port Adelaide from its community-based heritage, by removing its junior infrastructure for example, will strengthen the SANFL competition. Indeed it would be removing the very characteristic that makes Port Adelaide unique.
We are not talking about a franchise here. We are talking about a Club, with deep community connections. Generations of families dreaming of their sons one day playing for the Magpies, just as other kids dream about playing for Westies or the Bays or the Redlegs.
The idea of removing the Magpies altogether, is another level again! Surely an inconceivable notion! Last weekend we watched Port defeat Norwood at Alberton by less than a kick, in another classic match of the SANFL’s oldest and most fierce rivals. Tell me that game didn’t matter and isn’t worth fighting for.
In 1996, the SANFL Clubs chose not to allow Port Adelaide to leave the local competition to pursue its AFL ambition, fearing that the SANFL simply would not be the same without the Magpies. Today we are presenting the same argument.
143 years of contribution to the SANFL.
36 premierships.
Currently profitable and competitive.
4500 members today.
Premierships in the last 20 years
- Centrals: 9
- Port: 6
- Eagles: 3
- Norwood: 2
- Sturt: 1
- The Magpies currently service 39 Junior Clubs in our zone.
- Operate Country Academy and State Championships teams.
- Service 10,000 kids a year through coaching and promotional visits.
- The One Club strategy is working.
- $700k of Magpie sponsorship and membership revenue would be at risk.
The list will be bigger by the time of our presentation next week.
The purpose of this note is simply to prevent you from choking on your Weeties! We look forward to presenting our proposal to the SANFL Directors next week which will be focussed on building on our 143-year contribution to a strong and viable SANFL competition.
Have a good day!
KT
