Being a Port fan at the moment is a lot like being Schrodinger’s cat. I’m happy and at the same time filled with a sense of dread.
There is plenty to be happy about at the moment. Port are a top-four side and we are playing an exciting brand of football that attracted enough people back to Footy Park.
Kochie didn’t have to get the chequebook out. We have a new major sponsor and we are moving towards the target 40,000 members, with just over 37,000 at the time of writing.
We are entering a new era of the team from Alberton, a third age if you will.
I am still relatively new to this country but I fell in love with AFL very quickly. I read about the genesis of Port Adelaide, the history, the trophies and the legends.
After the move into the AFL Port Adelaide underwent somewhat of an identity crisis.
Not really sure how to fit in at the new school. Split between SANFL greatness and AFL novelty.
But true Port Adelaide fans went on to watch the dream of seeing their team grace the national stage become reality.
I own the DVD of the 2004 grand final, a final where 143 years of history finally blossomed, into the flower of Williams holding aloft the premiership cup and the flag taking pride of place at Alberton.
However it was a slightly watered down version of Port, stripped of their prison bars, nickname and song.
A decision that caused a rift in the supporter base, and still to this day allows opposition fans to glibly remove the history of one of the most successful sporting organisations in the world.
Over the last couple of years the club has reunited under one banner, we are Port Adelaide, the Magpies and the Power.
There is new life in the club.
The slogan for Renault, who came on board as the major sponsor this year, is ‘drive the change’ a more than apt message for the new era at Alberton.
Change is difficult, we had grown into the mediocrity of the last couple of years and worn it like a pair of old jeans.
They had holes in them and everyone could see our underpants, but they were ours and they were comfortable.
They looked great in the early 2000s and if we just keep wearing them, maybe they will come back into fashion.
This year we have bought a new pair, they are tight, it’s a struggle to get your hands in your pockets, and you just feel slightly uncomfortable.
All of a sudden though people are looking at our new threads and nodding their approval.
Port Adelaide has started the season unblemished.
Every question asked has been answered confidently. Unlike last year when we jagged the odd win with acts of desperation and grit.
This year there is a sense that we are winning games because we deserve to.
Forwards and midfielders kicking goals, defenders drying off forwards after giving them a four quarter bathing, and Kane Cornes following key playmakers everywhere.
I’m pretty sure Paddy Dangerfield can still see the possession machine every time he closes his eyes.
This is all fantastic, but here I am, unable to sleep and worrying about the game at the weekend.
The men from Alberton travel up to the Gold Coast to take on a team that has beaten St Kilda and narrowly missed out to the Lions.
If Port Adelaide is going to take the chocolates at Metricon Stadium then they must continue in the same vein as the last three weeks.
However, there is still something nagging at me. It is the shaven-headed spectre that is Gary Ablett Jr.
I watched the final quarter of the opening round in the humid conditions of Queensland. Every player on the park looked like they were running up a muddy hill, in gumboots, while having a warm shower.
Gazza on the other hand was riding his bike in the opposite direction, wind in his hair (well, if he had any), smiling, as he floated across the oval dragging his young side to a well-deserved victory.
Experts on both the TV and the couch will be confidently tipping Port Adelaide to take the points this weekend, and 95 percent of me thinks they will too.
But there is 5 percent that expects we will bend over and tear the backside out of our new jeans.
I really hope we don’t, I hate the feeling, but just like Kane Cornes on Paddy last weekend, it just won’t go away.
Dave Webb
Roar Pro
Thanks
Brendon
Guest
I like the teal, keep it, going back to black and white will polarize our supporter base and we've only just sort of got over our identidy crisis. I was actually an Essendon supporter when I grew up in Darwin so don't have a lot of attachment to the Port Magpies, yet as soon as Wanga's came across (He was my favourite player) and I moved to Adelaide the same year I found myself drawn to the Black, White and Teal. You know Port had Pink jumpers in the 1800's? Not saying we should wear pink but there are other colors in our history. Having said that, I'd love to see us wear the prison bar outfit in the heritage round. Would be awesome.
Brendon
Guest
Port have a lot of country members who register to show support but can't make all the games, the AAMI stadium membership also counts, in reality we've probably got about 30,000 actual members. Also "just" 25,000 people to a game isn't bad by comparison to other teams, Bulldogs, North Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and both expansion teams all get lower crowds than that on a regular basis, there's only a touch over million people in Adelaide and there's two teams, 30,000 to every game would be a great acheivement, but one that's very hard to achieve.
Bayman
Guest
Floyd, Dave, The SANFL stands for South Australian National Football League. As once the WAFL was the Western Australian National Football League. The idea is that Australian Rules football is our indigenous "national" code. So, do not read the SANFL as SA "National" FL but rather as SA "National Football" League. It's simple really. The WA boys dropped the "National" several years ago and are now simply the WAFL. Presumably this was out of concern for our Victorian brethren who had trouble understanding the context of the word "National"!!!!!! Mind you, the Vics have always had trouble understanding things SA. Like percentage. The VFL/AFL calculate it as Points For over Points Against x 100. South Australia as Points For over the sum of Points For and Points Against x100. In SA we have always known you cannot have more than one hundred percent of something. So in VFL/AFL if Team A scores 60 points and Team B scores 40 points then Team 's percentage is 150 (which is patently ridiculous) while Team B's percentage is 66.66 which is even more unusual. In SA, Team A would have a percentage of 60 and Team B would have 40. Perfectly obvious and mathematically correct. Of the 100 percent of scoring in a game Team A got 60 percent of it etc. No team can score more than 100 percent of what was scored. Perhaps a better term for the VFL/AFL would be "ratio" instead of "percentage". But, I digress.........in short, think "National Football" League - not "National" Football League.
Dave Webb
Roar Pro
After a brief search, I have no clue. Will get onto it for you
Josh
Roar Rookie
As a supporter of the Power, or whatever you want to refer to Port Adelaide's AFL team from day one who DOESN'T have any interest whatsoever in following the Port Magpies (and I'm not the only one of these people, as strange as it may seem), I don't in any way want to see us back in Black and White permanently. The AFL team is not the Port Magpies, and should be aiming to reach more than just an Alberton crowd of supporters. ...contradictory to that, I will accept wearing it during heritage rounds, though - if every Victorian team can wear a guernsey from their VFL heritage, than Port should be able to wear one from their SANFL heritage, no problem. But other than that? Keep the Black, White and Teal V.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
SANFL = South Australian National Football League? Shouldn't it be SAFL? Where did 'National' come from?
Phelpsy
Guest
That’s right … If Collingwood joined any other competition, say if they put a feeder side into the sanfl … Unlikely I know , they would be seen as arrogant if they suggested they could wear the stripes and ba called the magpies
The Curious Case of Benjamin Stratton
Guest
I like how you've basically repeated exactly the same comment you made above. Bit like when he kept repeating "Contannnnza" in that Seinfeld episode...it catches on ;-)
Phelpsy
Guest
That's right ... If Collingwood joined any other competition, say if they put a feeder side into the sanfl ... Unlikely I know , they would be seen as arrogant if they suggested they could wear the stripes and ba called the magpies
The Curious Case of Benjamin Stratton
Guest
Could Port Adelaide perhaps change their name to Collinswood?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Stratton
Guest
I recall years ago an article stating the Crows were essentially the Glenelg FC because of the amount of players and staff that started the club. Obviously that was 20 years ago and wouldnt apply now if true.
Dave Webb
Roar Pro
I've written about this today. Will hopefully be posted today or tomorrow.
Macca
Guest
They joined a pre-existing competition which already had a similar jumper.
Franko
Guest
Yes but Port Adelaide didn't join the VFL. They joined the AFL.
Phelpsy
Guest
I'm sure if Collingwood entered the sanfl they would be expected not to wear the black and white stripes which would be fair enough.
Macca
Guest
Thank heavens for small mercies.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
I dont call Port anything but Port.
dean
Guest
That should be good for a laugh.
dean
Guest
Ablett is injured. There's no Bock, no Dixon. I thought the Suns would get this game, but I can't see it happening now.