Dear Members and Supporters,
We're up and running for season 2017!
The footy program is in full swing, our push into China is gathering speed, and our members are lining up again in preparation for a titanic season-opener against the Sydney Swans on their home deck on March 25. Over 52,000 members at last count, on our way to 60,000 for the third year in a row!
We can't wait to get there.
Footy
The opening 30 minutes of the JLT Community series probably had a few of us shuffling around nervously. St Kilda opened really well, but as I said to Kenny, it looked like we had a new pair of shoes on, which felt a bit awkward.
There's still plenty of work to do, but we are really confident about the direction the program is heading. Chris Davies and Ken have done a terrific job introducing new ideas and resources to the group.
Our next challenge against Richmond at Mt Gambier on Sunday will be another opportunity to tune up for the season proper.
The most encouraging news is that the majority of the squad is healthy.
Hombsch and Jonas prowling around in the backline last week reinforced just how important it is to have your full list available.
And well done to the young blokes who survived their first AFL pre-season and appear ready to contribute at the senior level. As we saw last year, depth is critical.
Chad has got the Magpies revving nicely and Shaun Hart has taken to his new role of further strengthening our Next Generation Academy program with real energy.
Part of the footy program includes our women’s team in the SA Women's Football League - this is our club's current contribution to the extraordinary growth of the AFL women’s game in this country.
I have been asked many times how the club feels about not being involved in the inaugural AFLW season.
It’s quite simple really.
We have been super impressed with the progress of the women’s game this year, and we applaud the AFL’s commitment to opening up the game to young female competitors across Australia. Having watched the reaction, there is certainly an argument to suggest that the initiative was long overdue!
I am personally also really enjoying watching Erin Phillips live out her dream to play competitive footy as an adult. It's a great story.
Having said that, we are more than happy to be concentrating on our own agenda, which involves among other important things, winning games of AFL and SANFL footy to find our way back into the finals of both competitions, launching AFL football in China by playing the first game for points outside of Australia and New Zealand, and building on our industry-leading community programs. It’s a big agenda.
When the new women’s competition was first mooted, we thought that the launch would be in 2020. When that date became 2017, we were already well on the way with our plans for China and simply could not take on another major initiative.
I suspect there will an opportunity to field a national women’s team somewhere down the track, and if that opportunity presents itself we will assess it.
But for now, we’re very happy to be pushing ahead with our own plans.
China
With over 5000 registrations for tickets, out of Adelaide alone, interest in the Shanghai game is incredibly high. And with good reason!
Port Adelaide playing in one of the great cities of the world, in a historic first for our club and our game. It doesn't get bigger than that!
Imagine...
Flying into Shanghai in May. Temperatures in the mid-twenties, between five and six thousand of your Power mates by your side, sneaking into the Port Adelaide friendly Camel Hotel to get acquainted with the local scenery, then hitting the immense Shanghai shopping districts to pick up some black, white and teal knick-knacks for the game.
The dedicated may even want to attend a Power-driven conference for those who want to hear about how business really gets done in China, before turning your attention to the real reason you’re there - to help us win a game of footy!
You roll into the imposing Jiangwan Stadium to be consumed by the Taste of Australia festival (think Game Day Village on steroids) have a quiet drink and some Aussie fare, before heading inside to sing ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ (in Mandarin if you’re really prepared!) as our boys head out to battle.
Then it’s game on!
Having secured a hard-fought win, we head back outside to the festival where there will be a band, a party and the official post-match, before most of us (I’m sure) find our way out to one of the most magnificent photo backdrops in the world - The Bund - for the obligatory Shanghai selfie!
How does that sound?
Tickets will be available very soon. Register your interest here and get your visa organised to ensure you don’t miss out!
The Red guernsey
And don’t worry too much about the guernsey issue!
That’s an ongoing discussion with the Gold Coast.
The bigger picture, of course, is the game itself and the progress we are making in China… rest assured, we are flying!
It takes time to understand a country like China… and we are devoting that time.
Our reward is coming.
Business
Our China-related partnerships are growing:
Shanghai Cred
Ausgold
Tourism Australia
Cathay Pacific
TeeLee Travel
Portman Ritz Shanghai
China Power Club members
With more to come…
Our commercial team has been successfully attracting excellent new local partners as well:
Harley Davidson
Ray White
Also with several more to come joining our long-standing mates at Renault, OAK, Four ’n Twenty, RAA, BankSA, EnergyAustralia, Santos, UBet, MAC, Foodland, Novatech, Commwire and ISC. The club really is in good company.
Our partners appreciate our values and are drawn to them. Our responsibility is to honour their commitment to us with outstanding service and care.
I am very proud of the fact our partners remain solidly behind us as we head into this enormously challenging year.
Community
Our work in the community continues to be strong. In addition to the ongoing work we are doing with Foodbank, the Childhood Cancer Association and our Aboriginal programs, this year we are adding a new initiative.
Bobby Carlile has joined our community team and is helping us to launch a new Intercultural Program targeting those students from overseas or with non-English speaking parents.
Very often the task of settling into a new country, new school, and new culture is difficult and confronting. We are hoping, through the power of football and education we will help these young people to feel more included, connected and comfortable in their new surrounds.
It’s a new project and we have a long way to go, but it is another innovative example of our club trying to make a difference in our community.
United We Stand
Family day seems a long time ago, but it was terrific to see so many of the Port Adelaide faithful here at Alberton Oval to support the team.
Season 2017 is well and truly up and running, and we are looking forward to facing its challenges head on and united.
If you’re making the drive down to Mt Gambier on the weekend, make sure you don’t run into a Renault!
There’s sure to be a few of them on the road!
If you haven’t done so already, grab your 2017 membership and strap yourself in…it’s about to go up a notch or two!
See you at the footy!
KT
