Port Adelaide have done a magnificent job in the last two years. They have come from a very dark place.
Keith Thomas as CEO and David Koch as chairman have pulled the Power back from the brink.
And of course what they have chosen a coach who clearly is a very special person. Ken Hinkley, from what I can gather, is loved and respected by all in the Power establishment.
Last year the club was so close to playing in a grand final. The future was so bright. Everyone was picking Port as a top four team this year and a shoe-in for a grand final appearance.
Port Adelaide have also lead the way with their pre-game entertainment, much to the chagrin of the Adelaide Crows. Much of the hype is centred around their pre- bounce song, Never Tear Us Apart.
What a way to start their game, what a wonderfully inspirational way to promote the team – provided the team isn’t torn apart, which sadly they were at the Gabba on Sunday night.
There are many teams around the world that have motivational slogans and messages that either lift the spirits of the fans or encourage sponsors to jump on board. But it’s absolutely key that the club lives the slogan.
That’s a hard task. We can all say we are going to be the best, but to actually consistently live the goal is very difficult if not impossible.
But there is a fine balance that clubs need to undertake when they are predicting their future performances through slogans and tags.
Over promising can often instigate disappointment, but playing down a clubs chances doesn’t plant confidence and belief for supporters.
Port Adelaide a very proud club, and they always want to win. But that is not always possible, for a whole range of reasons.
Players get tired, they drop off in form, just five per cent and that can be enough. Other teams work them out, or the players biorhythms are down. There are a myriad of reasons why a team will lose a game.
And so when you come up with a slogan, it will only really work when you abide by that slogan all of the time.
Steven
Guest
Again there is only one PAFC, the Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club that now play in the SANFL were created as a separate leagal entity in 1997 as an entry condition of the PAFC being granted the AFL license. Both clubs are now united under the one club iniative, but that does still not change the history of the PAFC.
Barneythecrab
Guest
Really Steven? Did your players always play for the magpies when being sent back to the SANFL? It's a joke what the power are trying to do and steal the Maggie's heritage. It's no different to the crows trying to steal the sanfl heritage. Both are teams that came from the sanfl but have no proper linage. Kens just trying to use the Maggie's heritage to make power seem more legitimate than their cross town rivals. True Maggie supporters are annoyed with the false use of their teams cread and values.
Steven
Guest
Barney, They are not two separate clubs, their is only one PAFC that was established in 1870 and joined the AFL in 1997.
Barneythecrab
Guest
Think the article should have referred more to ports ad from last year that had KEn stating they would never give up. Looked like everyone except 4 players had given up. Don't like the talk about Ken telling his players they must cut their hair. None of his business and he is heading down a slippery path that will divide the club once again. Agree that they should not reference the 1870 as they are 2 different clubs. It would be like the crows placing one of the sanfl clubs origin dates on their guernsey. A no go.
Steven
Guest
Brendan, Believe what you like but there is no denying when PAFC stepped up to the AFL its preferred model was not to field a side in the SANFL. This was imposed upon them as part of the granting of the license and the Port Adelaide Magpies FC was created as a separate legal entity. Brian Cunningham was quoted at the time saying the model wouldn't work. P.S. I have barracked for Port Adelaide FC for 51 years and was ecstatic when we stepped up to the AFL and could not see the point in continuing to field a side in a lower league, which we had dominated for 130 years.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Anyone who's ever heard 'The Power To Win' understands why any pop ditty would be preferable. Even Achey Breaky Heart would be an improvement!
Brendan the 1st
Guest
What a load of crap! I suppose because u think this to be true then it is? Just because we had to split then suddenly we are two teams......righto. Every single Port supporter knows which team we come from and what our history is, PAFC Est 1870, it's even written on the back of the jumper just for beginners like yourself that haven't a clue. Back under your rock mate.
kick the winning score
Guest
the reality is port adelaide are still an ordinary team away from home and we all know they fluked it last year and after being on top of the ladder mid season 11-1 then they lost 7 of their last 10 games to finish in 5th position 14-8 Jay schulz might as well have a mitch clark excuse and go to hawthorn or sydney because the midfield are a bunch of amateurs If jay schulz was at hawthorn he will kick 100+ goals in a season easy because of his accurate kicking
Radelaide
Guest
Looks like an article written by a Crows fan that has been sitting around waiting as bait, pick your act up Roar.
PeteThePitbull
Guest
sorry 13th Man I confused that game with the year before although the dockers were without a lot of there stars that game but still no excuse
PeteThePitbull
Guest
13th Man the dockers got belted by the saints because half there side were being rested for the finals.But who would of thought first the eagles knocking them off in Adelaide now brizzy giving them a flogging I couldn't believe how woeful port were last night But yes its early days
13th Man
Guest
haha. Last two years i have blamed Lyon for the Dockers losing to St Kilda because he felt sorry for his old club. Probably the same here with Vossy.
13th Man
Guest
I think its just an aberration for the Power. Sometimes your just not on. Freo got belted by St Kilda last year, Sydney lost to GWS. It does happen. Port will be ok. No need to be worried yet Port fans. It was an awful performance but it is probably just a slip-up. Went in with the wrong mindset so they lost.
Franko
Guest
You need to be from Adelaide to understand what Aiston is doing, he certainly knows what he's doing.
WhereIsGene
Guest
I always assumed the slogan was a response to John McCarthy's death, an expression of the players' solidarity. Which is admirable, but the way they've commercialized and bastardized the slogan since then has worn away whatever genuine meaning it once had. Its now nothing more than a cheap, tacky advertising slogan to go with a faded INXS jingle. Major gimmick.
under the raider
Guest
Jay schulz is statistically the worst full forward to ever play the game did nothing until last year Having a running team is useless if they can't hit targets It was like Michael voss and shaun hart deliberately wanted brisbane to win because they felt sorry for leppa and their old club I hope ken hinkley gives them a huge spray
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Come on Mark. I think you should do some research before writing some of your articles. Their slogan is not about winning at all. I think it would be best you learnt that before making something out of nothing.
pauliewalnuts
Guest
They had a real edge last year with their running power. It's an edge they seem to have lost. Other teams may have caught up in this regard but more likely they have been unable to sustain that sort of intensity. There's only so far you can push yuoung bodies, and they seem to be picking up a few more overuse type injuries (eg Polec). There's plenty of quality there and good leadership so won't be writing them off, but some worrying signs.
Steven
Guest
Maggie, The PAFC established in 1870 played as the Magpies in the SANFL, prior to joining the AFL in 1997 as the Power with a new jumper. The Port Adelaide Magpies FC was established as the brand new entity in 1997 as part of PAFC AFL entry conditions.
themadchatter
Guest
It shouldn't take one line from a song for them to put some effort into the matches they play. Never tear us apart is a wonderful pre-game entertainment tool but if there was any one thing to motivate them it should be The Creed written by Foster Williams in 1962 not some song that has no connection to the Port Adelaide Football Club. The Brisbane Lions were playing some really good pressure cooker football which caught the Power off guard. Their ball use was much better also but what the Creed dictates is that "There can be honour in defeat, but to each of us, honourable defeat of our Club and guernsey can only come after human endeavour on the playing field is completely exhausted."