As Lady Macbeth discovered, it is sometimes impossible to wash out that “damned spot”.
The entry of the Port Adelaide Football Club into the AFL could easily be a Shakespearean plotline. The Port Adelaide Magpies were one of ten clubs unified like blood brothers around the table of SANFL headquarters, bonded together in over 100 years of history. A competition of herculean battles and heroes, heralding players like Barrie Robran, Russell Ebert, Malcolm Blight, Garry McIntosh and Stephen Kernahan. A competition producing skill on par, and sometimes superior, to interstate leagues.
But despite the years of glory, there was no way of ignoring the oncoming army from the east. Larger in size, it was marching forth to take over and change everything.
But the SANFL was steadfast in its unity, and in May 1990 voted against joining the Australian Football League until at least 1993. All sides, including Port Adelaide, voted to refuse entry and demand terms that would ensure the pride of South Australian football was respected and upheld and that the competition wouldn’t be tilted heavily in favour of Victorian teams. All ten clubs, including Port Adelaide, were united as one. At least that’s the way it appeared.
On July 4, 1990, the Port Adelaide administrators snuck over to AFL House and signed a deal. In an act of treachery – or perhaps smart self-preservation – they signed a heads of agreement to enter the AFL as a separate entity to the rest of the SANFL, an arrangement that was kept secret for almost a month.
This moment in history sparked a chain of events. With the AFL holding all the aces, they allowed the SANFL to throw together a ramshackle team as a counter-offer to the Port Adelaide bid. The bid to form the Adelaide Crows was accepted and they joined in 1991, with less-than-ideal terms. Terms that continue today.
Port eventually made their way to the AFL in 1997 through a separate licence offer. Nine other proud SANFL clubs missed out, and the South Australian competition was left depleted. The terms of the entry were similar to the Crows’ and the events of July 1990 were hardly spoken of again.
When talking about the guernsey issue and Port Adelaide’s request to wear the ‘prison bar’ jumper, Eddie McGuire reminded us of the 1990 events on Channel Nine’s Footy Classified this week. He said, “Let’s not forget, Port Adelaide tried to break away – I won’t say rat, I won’t say they were Judases to the South Australian National Football League – others would”.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Eddie was no doubt referencing the 1990 events to imply Port had lost the right to hold onto its SANFL past. While this argument is a stretch, those events are certainly relevant to the jersey controversy in terms of power imbalance.
Port Adelaide betrayed the SANFLs ambition to demand a fair and equal national competition. In doing so, they allowed the power dynamic to be titled strongly in favour of Victoria. An imbalance that is evident today and, among other things, now sees Port Adelaide unable to wear its prison bar guernsey.
Of course, Port Adelaide Football Club, with their 150 years of proud history, should be able to wear the prison bar guernsey, at least for the showdown. Of course, the supposed clash with Collingwood’s colours is ridiculous.
But this is what South Australians signed up to. A position of inferiority at the bargaining table that Port Adelaide sanctioned.
The footy gods don’t forget.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
You jolted my memory on that. I'd totally forgotten that one. I lived in that electorate in the early 80's. If l had my time again I'd've never have left.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
... and if you look to the right you can see the rest of the (then) Downer property. Playford hated the Downer family so much that he ensured that the SE Freeway alignment sliced their property in 2! That level of vindictiveness would make Dave Granger blush!
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Leigh Matthews, Paul Roos, Malcolm Blight?
Johnno
Roar Rookie
He’s the only one I can think of that has the experience to be able to say it
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Well if Malthouse said it, it must be true!
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Very well written Timbo. As a Sydney resident who has worked around the country as well I would concur with all your comments.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It'll be 15 bottles of whiskey before we come to agreement
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
There was a hell of lot of bs going around. By the sounds of it we're probably lucky we have what we have today, otherwise it could of gone eitherway. I might do some articles and put it all out there considering ive only mentioned up to what 85 so far, theres so much more that went on as well. I couldn't imagine what it would be like now if it didn't all go through, what would we all be doing now, where would our weekends be without our footy fix.lol.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I remember thinking, at the time, why does West Coast have to pay 2 supply ? —– They supplied players, facilities and had to fly every 2nd week with some Melbourne teams not flying once in a season. Ofc, as more teams came on that was redressed a very little bit. And after everything the VFL threw at SA, and the others, they had the unmitigated gall and audacious temerity to get other’s to stump up for the mendicant VFL? —— There’s quite a few good Viccos on here but ya got a look at the chronic, hegemonic dictatorship that Victoria was riding roughshod over the smaller states.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
One of the biggest sticking points with the sanfl was the whole having to pay the 4million at the time for a licence l, in their mind they didnt have too or shouldnt have to pay it. Nearly 10 years of stuffing around before it finally happened.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
I think so well officially anyway.lol.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
It wasn't really that bad i don't think, I quickly looked it up yesterday and like you said it just had more yellow on it, not sure why it was considered such a clash with our jumper but still find it amusing how when it suits the AFL it wasn't a problem but now it is. But hey what can ya do.lol.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
That's the one!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Gee, SA & WA missed a trick by not sticking hard in dealing with Victoria. Certainly the Mafia were not interested in ceding ground. They were fine sucking up the best for their league. All those Victorians wins in State football, prior to SOO, was paid for, in part, by WA, TAS & SA players. The then VFL knew no shame.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It may've been 85 by the time it got to that stage.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
... me?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Victoria knows no shame (tongue firmly in cheek)
Kevo
Roar Rookie
What about gofund?
sven
Roar Rookie
ah yeah thats right, i do now recall all those billboards throughout nsw & qld telling the good folk all about victorias great football code & that advertising campaign on the telly spruiking the same message, no bloo*dy wonder they reckon its a vicco only sport
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I was actually going for profund, not profound, but that word is even wrong. Too late now. But you are pro that found it.