Yesterday, the Adelaide Crows announced to the football world that they will be wearing a replica South Australian state guernsey in the Round 2 Showdown against Port Adelaide.
This surprising and polarising move was described by the Crows as a tribute to South Australian football, which will coincide with the opening of the new Adelaide Oval.
Without much surprise, many Port Adelaide and general AFL supporters have labelled the decision as disrespectful, disappointing and distasteful, along with several other superlatives that I won’t mention on such a civilised website as The Roar.
I must agree with those people.
The state jumper is something that many South Australians identify with. It’s got our state colours on it, we’ve smashed the hell out of the Vics in it and before the Crows and Port entered the AFL, it unified our state.
It didn’t matter if you were a Norwood or a Port supporter; when the Croweaters played, everyone was on the same page.
Most of the South Australian players in the AFL have proudly worn the Piping Shrike in the under-18 national championships regardless of whether they went for the Crows, Port or the Scotch College First XVIII.
And therein lies the problem. The guernsey belongs to the state, not the Crows.
Along with the Crows’ narcissistic idiom of “The team for all South Australians”, they clearly believe that they have the right to wear a sacrosanct identifier of South Australia against a club that has done more for South Australian football than any other.
It’s in a way giving a giant ‘up yours’ to a 143-year-old club, which is as much rich in history as it is plentiful with silverware. It’s a thought process based on selfishness and entitlement and to be honest, I can’t believe it was approved by the AFL.
It’s like Carlton wearing the ‘Big V’ against Collingwood or the Broncos wearing the Queensland jersey against the Cowboys or Lorde attempting to dance. It just shouldn’t happen.
Before yesterday’s announcement, I was looking forward to the opening of the Adelaide Oval. It was going to be a memorable experience.
In many ways, it was going to show how progressive Adelaide is becoming and how maybe all the political BS that has divided sport in this state over the past 40 years was beginning to dissipate.
I can’t help but feel as though the Crows wearing the state guernsey will divide supporters, rather than unify them.
The Crows and Port were supposed to be on an equal playing field at the Oval. No bias, no resentment over Port’s supposed ‘betrayal’ in 1990. For all intents and purposes, it was to be a fresh start.
This announcement doesn’t aid in unification, instead showing that there is still an unhealthy Machiavellian mentality afoot in South Australian football.
It threatens to go against everything that this once promising change in the South Australian sporting landscape is supposed to be about, which gives credence to the notion that the South Australian guernsey should be left alone.
Dave B
Guest
As a Port Adelaide supporter I say bring it on if they the camry crows want to wear something they have no right to wear let them but then Port Adelaide should be able to wear the SANFL Magpies football guernsey in the same game. You might of been first to the AFL but you are not a club you dont even have clubrooms (does a shed count).
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Walt, I hope you realise I was being sarcastic re Mastermind's offering.
Richard F
Guest
I have never understood why Port Adelaide could not use what I consider their traditional jumper. That is the one that is half black and the upper part is very thin black and white stripes. The Collingwood jumper is full length black and white wide stripes. BTW I still prefer to call Port Adelaide , Port Adelaide and not Port Power which has always been a crap name. I am a Glenelg supporter.
me, I like football
Guest
Like Melbourne Victory?
me, I like football
Guest
No more lame than Jersey, you have your cow/channel Island. Let us have our cow/channel island
Gyfox
Guest
Agree with you, Alicesprings.........except Crows are not "man enough to admit they stuffed up". They are still trying to justify it. Their arrogance will be hoisted on their own Pettard
Walt
Guest
Whinge all I like. I will never cheer against the State guernsey. That's treason. Real men don't abuse their culture. The AFC have no right to wear it. Take your weak Rugby League analogies and put them where the sun dares to shine.
vocans
Guest
Maybe some of us can still feel we have some influence on the game we love. It's not just a business as long as fans don't let themselves and the game be taken for granted.
Alicesprings
Guest
Well at least they were man enough to admit they stuffed up. That said still unbelievable that the decision was made in the first place..gees the SANFL really does hate Port. The sooner they're free from them and own their licence the better! SANFL has only ever seen Port as a cash cow and has zero respect for the club.
Rodney Penny
Roar Pro
I'm glad the SANFL withdrew their approval of the guernsey. The people have spoken and won!
deebhoy
Guest
fair enough mate,i like to see the old state clubs getting support but I was under the impression you were a one time crows member who dosent support them anymore due to your bitterness towards the AFL?
liam
Guest
Maybe if Port threaten the prison bars the influential Eddie will put a stop to Adelaide wearing the SA jersey (btw is the 'v' navy and gold or royal blue and gold?)
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Thanks Mastermind. As cutting edge as ever!
Gyfox
Guest
There is now a caption competition for the pic of Nigel Smart smirking
HarryHP
Guest
Hold the phone! Decision has been overturned. Common sense prevails http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/sanfl-forces-adelaide-crows-to-abandon-state-of-origin-adelaide-oval-showdown-guernsey/story-fnia3xzy-1226818767749
Gyfox
Guest
Correct decision now made by SANFL. But Trigg trying to justify it still & weaselling out of it. That creep should never have been allowed back.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
This has turned what should have been a great celebration into a grudge match, and all it will take is a couple of Bogans from either team to get into a punch up and it will all be remembered for the wrong reason. I really don't understand why the Crows felt the need to do this, it was a chance to put all the political BS to bed and to re-invent SA footy for both teams, it's now turned into a sideshow. Well done Crows, you've cheapened what would have been a fantastic moment in SA footy history......Selfish and stupid.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Slightly off topic, but the so-called Piping Shrike from the SA flag is simply a Magpie anyway. Definitely not a Crow either. So Port can feel doubly aggrieved by this insulting decision.
Gyfox
Guest
Hot off the press......SANFL has stopped Crows using this jumper
Faz
Guest
Yep Kasey, the jumpers are almost identical except for the colours and the body that overseas the SA competition has said 'yes' for ONE match. But just how offended are Port? Both jumpers are 'in your face' on the Power website. They're milking it for all its worth. The guernsey would be 'sacrosanct' if there was a remote prospect of a SoO revival but that's not on the horizon, so this replica (it's not the original, it's a REPLICA) pays a fitting tribute.