The Port Adelaide story is one of the most compelling reads in all of sport. Full of struggle, persistence and relentless ambition, Port Adelaide has developed a tradition of success and a never-say-die attitude that our opponents have both feared and envied for generations.
On Saturday night, against a fancied West Coast Eagles playing well enough to push out to a 41-point lead late into the third quarter, our team dug deep into its soul to fashion an incredible victory, reminding us once again what it is that we love about our Club.
As each goal scored dragged us excitingly back into the contest, I found my mind wandering back to another famous come-from-behind Port Adelaide victory, some 25 years earlier.
It was a gloomy May day on The Parade, with 14,000 fans crammed in to watch another torrid encounter between arch-rivals Port Adelaide and Norwood. At half-time, Norwood had forged a solid five-goal lead and looked to be heading towards a comfortable win. But this was no normal day.
Earlier that week, the Magpie community had solemnly honoured the passing of one of its favourite sons Anthony Williams, who died in tragic circumstances whilst renovating a house. Norwood had experienced a similarly tragic loss a year earlier, when its rugged centre-half-back Jimmy Thiel fell victim to a work accident.
Its players didn’t recover emotionally, and lost a final the following week. I vividly remember reflecting on that experience as we walked down the tunnel at half-time that day, sensing that Port Adelaide was about to experience a similarly numbing disappointment.
But inside the Port rooms, Jack Cahill was crafting a different story. He spoke to his players about the Williams family and what they meant to this Club. He painted a picture of them sitting around the radio that afternoon, listening to the game, hoping that their team could somehow find the courage to rise above the grief and sadness of losing a mate and mount a comeback.
The thought of letting Anthony and his family down was unbearable, and as the team re-emerged for the second half, there was a hardness about them, a manic desire to honour their mate…and with a late goal to Timmy Ginever, another incredible page of spirit and bravery was added to the story that is Port Adelaide.
We are all heartened by your feedback that Port Adelaide is starting to look, feel and importantly act, like the Port Adelaide we love - the Port Adelaide that honoured J-Mac so magnificently two weeks ago in the same way the Maggies paid tribute to Anthony with that stirring come-from-behind victory almost 25 years ago to the day.
This is a special Club, and we all feel the heavy weight of privilege and responsibility of nurturing the spirit of its spectacular past, and the hopes of an even brighter future. Experiencing the passion and power of the Port Adelaide community igniting its support behind our teams this year has been awe-inspiring and uplifting. From the whole Port Adelaide team, we thank you again.
And to Jenny, Stephen, Mark and the entire Williams family, our thoughts and prayers are with you, as we remember Anthony on the 25th anniversary of his passing.
Anthony Williams
21/8/58 – 29/4/88
Games:
120 SANFL League games
101 for Port Adelaide (1979-1985)
19 for West Adelaide (1976- 78)
PAFC debut: v Norwood April 7, 1979
Regards,
KT
