Dear members and supporters,

We’re all disappointed with the loss to Brisbane in what was a very winnable game and one that would have provided our playing group with a significant boost going into our last week of competition.

The positive is that the guys are throwing themselves into the contest and we thought Chad Wingard (Round 22 NAB AFL Rising Star Award nominee) and Aaron Young showed their promise. Congratulations must also go to ‘T-Shirt’ Tommy Logan on perhaps the grittiest 100 games played for Port Adelaide in a long time.

Magpies/AFL Reserves

Talk has emerged about the possibility the SANFL could be down-sized to eight teams from 2014, with anonymous sources fuelling speculation the Magpies may be removed. While league club officials have discussed the size and shape of the competition, there is absolutely no direction from the SA Football Commission to cut the size of the league, or to remove Port Adelaide or any other club.

SANFL Executive Commissioner Leigh Whicker has today (Wednesday) stated:

“The subject of an eight-team competition was raised at last night’s league directors meeting in the context that it was previously discussed at a SANFL CEO’s forum.
“I can categorically confirm that this matter is not and has not been on the SA Football Commission’s agenda.
The SA Football Commission went through a rigorous process to … form One Port Adelaide. In December 2010 the SANFL issued a licence to the Port Adelaide Magpies to participate in the SANFL competition and there are no plans by the SANFL to dismantle this agreement.”

From Port Adelaide’s point of view, let me state again our absolute support for the Magpies. We have worked hard over the past three years to reunify our club for the benefit of our teams in both the AFL and the SANFL, and the wider Port Adelaide community. The Magpies are a tremendously valuable asset to the Port Adelaide Football Club and - what is more - to South Australian football. It has been that way for a very long time and it remains so.

Speculation also continues about the idea of a “Reserves” team.

Our position is clear…Port Adelaide would like to have all of its listed players playing for Port Adelaide each and every week. Whether they’re playing in the AFL side or for the Magpies, we’d like them playing for us. We think there are development advantages to be had for the players, and certainly from a logistical and cultural point of view, such a set-up would make a lot of sense to us.

Having said that, we also acknowledge that any proposition to alter the SANFL competition in any way must respect its integrity. Right now, there doesn’t appear to be an appetite for this type of conversation. Interestingly, the same discussion is taking place in WA and to an extent in Victoria where the suitability of existing arrangements is also being challenged.

I don’t have the answer, but I sense there is an inevitability that all AFL clubs will have full control of a team in a second tier competition at some point in the future. How and when still needs to be sorted out, but if approached collaboratively and respectfully I’m sure a great outcome for the long-term development of football is achievable.

AFL Coaching Appointment

Not much more to report as yet. The criteria is developing, and the list of candidates is taking shape. At the AFL CEO’s conference last week, we agreed with the Coaches’ Association that certain protocols were important when interacting with coaches involved in the finals series. Essentially, it is expected that if contact is going to be made with an assistant coach, then the CEO of the Club concerned will be contacted as a courtesy. As luck would have it, I was able to speak to all of the CEO’s at the conference and put them all on notice!

It was also agreed that no contact or announcements would be made during Grand Final week, to coaches actively involved in the match. Again, that seems pretty fair to me.

Our plan is to complete our process prior to Grand Final week, although these things can sometimes get derailed. Pleased to report that, despite David Parkin warning us not to rush it (good advice from Parko by the way), it’s so far so good and we’re on schedule.

Assistant Coaches

There has been some speculation in regards to what happens to our Assistant Coaches when a new coach arrives. I think there may be a view that the new guy will want to come in and wipe the slate clean and start again, but that is not how we envisage it happening here.

Firstly, they are all contracted. We assembled most of our new team of assistants last year (Rehn, Carr, Edwards and Gotch) and we have been pleased with the contribution of each member and how they have worked with the other members of the coaching group (Hocking, Nicks and Healy). They each bring great football intellect and different experiences which we value.

Secondly, I have yet to speak with a potential coach who has been concerned at the prospect of walking into our existing structure. In fact it has been quite the contrary, with the general belief being that the continuity of such an arrangement will actually help them get into the role more efficiently.

Of course, the structure has to ultimately suit the requirements of the senior coach, but we don’t expect drastic change.

Travis Boak

It’s great to see Travis back to some very good form after frustrations with injury. Our discussions with Boaky continue, albeit there hasn’t been a lot of action in the last couple of weeks.

When all the fuss about Geelong talking to him was in the media, Travis was still considering whether it was time to return to his home state to be closer to his family.

We hadn’t even seriously begun talking about the contract terms at that time. Travis made the decision that he was happy to stay in Adelaide, and contract discussions began in earnest. Then came the Matthew Primus decision. Quite rightly, Travis wanted to know how that would affect the future direction of the club and he came to speak to us about it with his manager. Since then, our contract talks have resumed and we feel very comfortable with where they’re at today.

Our last game for 2012

We’re all disappointed that 2012 has not lived up to expectations. It has stirred us to an even higher level of urgency to get things right.

This weekend we take on Richmond at the MCG with an enormous amount to play for.

We can’t wait to get there.

Keith Thomas,
Chief Executive Officer

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