Port Adelaide’s board has delayed today’s scheduled vote on a final proposal to secure the club’s position in the SANFL.
One element of the proposal is being queried by rival SANFL clubs.
The proposal moves the club to a complete “One Port Adelaide” model.
Club chief executive Keith Thomas briefed members last night at Alberton on the proposal which includes:
- Port Adelaide AFL (playing as the Power).
- Port Adelaide SANFL (playing as the Magpies and retaining the traditional guernsey).
- This team to be made up of those players not selected for the AFL team each week and members from a pool of 15 contracted SANFL-only players.
- Port Adelaide SANFL Reserves (also known as the Magpies and wearing the traditional guernsey). This team will be an elite talent academy made up largely of 18-22 year old players.
- A series of youth development academies including a country and indigenous development program, an international player pathway, a father/son academy and a metropolitan development program.
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Several SANFL clubs have challenged Thomas’s statement that there would be no age restriction on the top-up players in the Power reserves squad.
Its understood that the SANFL removed the age restriction on August 29 – but that appears to be news to some SANFL clubs.
Thomas told members the model will “help ensure a competitive Magpies team in the SANFL and help to keep our proud state league as the second-best competition outside of the AFL”.
After the meeting Thomas said the proposed model “was positively received by those members and supporters in attendance tonight”.
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“Port Adelaide is open for business, we’re the Power in the AFL, the Magpies in the SANFL and, most importantly, we are Port Adelaide.”
Thomas said the proposed model had already been cleared in the SANFL with a 7-1 vote.
“For me that means that most of the league clubs are supportive of us, understand our commitment to them, and want to have a Magpies side that they can try and beat every week of the year.
“If it is passed, we will begin work immediately towards building a football club for every Port Adelaide supporter and working tirelessly to make us truly ‘One Club’.”
Thomas reminded members last night that since the club had joined the AFL, it had hardly been plain sailing.
“Our club has been compromised since 1997.
“We’ve paid a heavy price; no premierships for the Magpies since 1999, no finals appearances in the AFL for six years.
“That is not what this club is about.”
Late today Port issued a statement delaying the scheduled Board vote.
“Given the significance of this long-term decision and that new information relating to the model’s top-up players was only received late yesterday, the Board of Directors have requested more time to consider the recommendations.”
The club will inform its members as soon as a final decision has been made.
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